Very few of us realize that the old maxim of – every journey begins with a single step – applies so well to our lives and our efforts to improve it. The single step easily translates to a single day of our lifetime. The Daily Challenge is a web application that has come in to remind us of that very fact. In their own words, The Daily Challenge promotes everyday well-being by encouraging the small actions and fostering the social ties that drive meaningful change.

But The Daily Challenge keeps its focus (and yours) on small incremental changes rather than lofty ones. It does away with the typical ‘run marathons in 3 months’ approach to a more achievable ‘move your arms like you are jogging for 1 minute’. But how does it keep us on track and motivated enough on the lifestyle change curve?

An Email With The Daily Challenge

daily challenge

Every morning at 7 AM, you will receive a daily challenge via email. The ‘challenge’ has to be met within 24 hours. Oh, don’t worry, you won’t be asked to do 100 pushups. Following on its simple goals and simple challenges theme, it would be something like - set a timer on your watch or phone and brush your teeth for 2 minutes, then follow up with floss.

email challenges

This was the first challenge I received just after I signed on.

The Free Sign Up & Setting Up Your Profile

You can sign up with an email or connect with Facebook. The important thing is that the web application is completely free. One of the very first things you should do after signing up is to confirm the timezone as the email will hit your inbox at 7 A.M. in your time.

email challenges

You can skip connecting with friends, although I would say that removes one of the key motivators for life change. Being accountable to your social circle helps to keep you on track towards your goals. The Daily Challenge is as much about the social community as it is about you.

Don’t skip the Well-Being Tracker because the few questions help you to create a baseline score from where you can only improve. Finish the sections entitled Life Evaluation and Emotional Challenge before you hit the Daily Challenge button.

A question like - In the last 12 months, was there a time when you did not have money for adequate shelter or housing for you or your family? – makes you ponder that your life isn’t bad after all.

email challenges

Completing these sections also wins you Stamps. Stamps are ‘badges’ that you can show for all your achievements on the site.

challenges dailies

Are You Up For The Daily Challenge?

The Daily Challenge, in its simplest form, works like this:

challenges dailies

Posting comments after you meet your daily challenges is a fun way to share experiences. You never know what you might learn from this shared activity with others on the site. As you go on completing challenges, you go up each level and accumulating points. These points open up a wider area for self-improvement called Tracks.

The Bigger Challenges – Tracks

Tracks are concentrated areas of activity. For instance, here’s a preview of the Tracks you can follow and attempt to complete in 28 days. They are also constructed around daily challenges and incremental improvements each and every day.

challenges dailies

But if you think you can just amble in and start with a Track, you are wrong. Tracks are locked and can only be opened with tokens. Tokens can be earned with points. There are several ways you can earn points - by completing challenges consistently, posting how you did it, finishing pacts with your connections, building your network, receiving and giving encouragement…and more.

daily challenge

For every 100 points you earn, you are awarded 1 Token. 25 Tokens can be converted to a Key. Each Key unlocks 28 days of access to a Daily Challenge Track of your choice. For the next 28 days you can focus on only that area and bring about improvement in your life.

Self- improvement starts with motivation. If you can’t mother it within, allow The Daily Challenge to prod you along. It has all the tools to bring little changes to our lives. Would you agree? Do you use any other online tool to improve your life and those around you?