I signed up for something that might just drive me a little crazy – and I mean that in the best way possible.
It’s called the Ultimate Blog Challenge, and the goal is simple but not easy: Write and publish a new blog post every single day for 30 days straight.
That’s right… every day. No batching. No backdating. No skipping.
Why am I doing this? Because I’m committed to getting better every day, and this challenge fits right into that mission. OK – full disclosure for a moment… I run/organize the challenge!
Writing every day sounds like a dream on paper. But once you start juggling real life, work, errands, obligations, and the occasional “just need to zone out” moment, sitting down to write each day starts to feel like a steep hill to climb.
And yet, that’s the whole point. It is a challenge!
This isn’t just a blogging challenge. For me, it’s a mindfulness practice, a discipline builder, and an invitation to slow down and reflect – even if it’s only for 20 minutes a day (sometimes more… maybe less – time will tell!)
I’m not approaching this like a content machine trying to pump out articles just for the sake of hitting a goal. I’m treating it as a chance to pause each day and look for one moment, one insight, one tiny thing that made the day a little better or taught me something.
Some days, it might be a profound realization from a coaching session or a personal win I didn’t expect. Other days, it might be something as small as the feeling I get from finishing a glass of water before a meeting or noticing the way a short walk clears my head.
And since I am being honest – some days I’ll probably be staring at the screen wondering what in the world to write about. Hopefully not too many days! LOL.
But that’s part of the growth. That’s part of showing up.
When I look back on my progress – whether it’s in health, fitness, business, or relationships – the changes didn’t come from big flashy moments. They came from those small, almost invisible actions that added up over time. They came from the mornings I didn’t want to show up, but did. From the days I didn’t feel “on,” but still put in the work. Like today when I didn’t want to go get my workout in, but went anyway.
This challenge will test that muscle ( bad pun intended!)
It’s easy to write when you feel inspired. It’s much harder when you’re tired, uninspired, or feeling like you don’t have anything meaningful to say. But I’m willing to bet that even on the “off” days, I’ll uncover something valuable by pushing through.
If nothing else, this daily habit of reflection will help me stay present. So often we (I mean, I) rush through our days, going from one task to the next, never stopping to notice what just happened. The Ultimate Blog Challenge is my daily excuse to pause, think, reflect, and document. It’s about being intentional andnnot just about writing, but about living.
And who knows? Maybe by the end of the 31 days, I’ll be able to look back at this collection of posts and see how I’ve grown. Maybe there will be patterns I hadn’t noticed. Maybe a new idea will emerge. Maybe a single post will resonate with someone else and help them in some way.
That alone would make it worth it.
Now, I’ll be honest with you – I’m not promising Pulitzer-level prose here (if you read previous blogs, that will come as no surprise!). Some posts might be short. Some might be rough around the edges. But they’ll be real. And they’ll reflect where I am that day – whether that’s tired, inspired, frustrated, grateful, or all of the above.
I’m inviting you along for the ride.
If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog or getting back into the habit of writing, maybe this is your sign. You don’t need to do it perfectly. You just need to do it.
Maybe your version of the challenge isn’t writing. Maybe it’s walking every day. Meditating. Drinking more water. Reaching out to one person a day just to say hi. Whatever it is, I encourage you to try something for 31 days. Not to be perfect, but to be present. To show up.
Because that’s what getting better every day is all about.
I’ll be posting each day here on GettingBetterEvery.day, so if you want to follow along, feel free to check back. And if you’re doing the challenge too – or just want to cheer me on – I’d love to hear from you.
This is going to be an adventure. Some days will be smooth, others will be a grind. But by the end of it, I know I’ll be glad I did it.
Here’s to showing up—even when it’s not easy.
Let’s get better, together.
OK – I am done for today… It is now Your Turn:
Have you ever taken on a 31-day challenge like this? Are you a past UBC-er? What did you learn from it? Leave a comment below – I’d love to hear your story.
I’m here again Paul and thank you for keeping this group going! This is my 39th UBC and hopefully I can complete this one also. Like you mentioned, somedays I’ll be starring at the screen wondering what to write about but when I hit a blank, I sometimes can find ideas by looking through my photos! Happy blogging!
Welcome Back, Martha! I never get tired of saying that to you!
Wow! What a way to start the July UBC.
Thank you, Paul, you’ve just covered a whole heap of things I hadn’t even thought of.
Writing is about using a muscle that will atrophy if not used, so here’s to writing every day for a month. And your suggestion of not reaching for the Pullitzer Prize takes a lot of pressure off us ‘not-so-experienced’ writers – it’s more about showing up and writing.
Thank you,
No pressure here! No pressure to even write 31 times this month – the challenge is up to you! Good Luck, Maureen!
I have done these challenges for a long time, but have found that I can’t manage the entire 31 days anymore. And actually, I am still trying to decide whether or not to do this one. Thanks for the inspiration!
You can do it, Jeanine! Maybe shoot for 30 posts… Or 29?? Maybe 28?? Come up with a number that fits YOU and challenge yourself on that!
I had to smile when I read that you signed up for this slightly crazy writing challenge 😉 and I realized I don’t even know how you came up with it in the first place, and how long ago? So if one of theses days you’re feeling uninspired, why don’t you tell us about it.
Getting better and showing up every day is already a huge win, and I’m looking forward to reading about your and the other participants’ journeys.
That is a great questions, Tamara! I jsut updated the About page on the UBC!
https://ultimateblogchallenge.com/about/
I’m very thankful for this challenge. I find it a great motivator. It’s making me accountable. I also enjoy the community and being able to build some friendships along the way.
Thanks for hosting this challenge, Paul.
My pleasure, Barb! Thanks for being a part of the community!
You hit the nail on the head – muscle memory! I need to do this to get it into my muscles thatvwriting is a daily, or every other day, activity. The time away I slacked. I need the motivation to keep me going. Thanks for doing this for us. Eydie
I went to the gym today, Eydie… My muscles are NOT happy… just a sign these “muscle muscles” need work, just like my writing muscles. In both cases, I am excited to keep them going. And, I go to the gym 5 times a week… and I do more writing that most (according to grammerly, at least!) – it jsut goes to show you that everyone is at their own point in their journey and that we ALL ‘Struggle’ to improve!
Hi Paul, thanks so much for creating this inspiring challenge to help us grow! I struggle with perfectionism in posting. This post taught me that is doesn’t need to be anything fancy to share. Just something meaningful to the writer in the moment.
Hi Jennifer – If it helps, I will let you know now (and in front of everyone publically), you are already perfect! Now that you know, just go out and do what you want to do!
You never fail to inspire me, Paul! I am glad to be back and blogging again with you and the UBC crew (did we just form a comedy troupe?)
I am aiming for all 31 posts and have some ideas of what to write about noted down. I fully expect to stare at the screen at least a few times, thanks for the reminder that we all face that, it’s okay, and to push through to do it anyway.
Excited to follow your journey this month!
Kimberly
I am here on the journey as well! I feel everyone’s pain – LOL. Thanks for coming back for more, Kimberly!
Hi Paul, I have done these challenges for years. I have made a lot of good friends over the years.
Welcome back! I see a lot of your friends here 🙂