Having a bucket list, that list of fun things to do before you cross over to the other side, is something that, oddly enough, some people never get around to doing. The reasons can range from not having enough money or time to not having anyone to do something fun with. In regards to the latter excuse, if one spends their life waiting for their schedule to coincide with someone else, or even if they’re waiting for that “fun person” to come along, the lost opportunities can be enormous. It’s better to live by the motto, “Carpe diem!” — “Seize the day!”
Learn to fly an ultralight
Solo adventuring can be intimidating for some people, but it is a great exercise for steeling your nerve and learning to operate truly independently without the hindrances of a companion. Yes, there are pros and cons to traveling with a companion but if the scheduling doesn’t work out you must be prepared to go with the flow. Not only that, traveling solo allows you to make friends along the journey.
Finding Time and Money for Adventure
As for money and time, both have to be tackled by saving. Yes, time can be saved, for instance, saving up sick or vacation time from work or simply planning an adventure to coincide around a long weekend or holiday. Buried by endless chores around the house? Consider hiring someone to do the yard work one week or fix things around the house to free up time for yourself. It doesn’t even necessarily have to involve spending more money if you have something that you can barter for services.
Learn to save money for your goals
Some people consider the prospect of saving money to be as difficult as slaying a three-headed dragon but it doesn’t have to be. Step one, open a savings account just for bucket list goals. Set up a small portion of each paycheck, even if its just $10 or $20, to automatically be deposited into that account and then leave it alone.
Next, find ways to limit your spending by shopping the sales at the grocery store, re-purposing old items around the house or having a garage sale. Make a change jar and drop each day’s loose change in it. When eating out embrace the two-for-one dinner coupons that many restaurants offer. For every money saving method you implement it brings you that much closer to achieving your bucket list goals.
Making the Bucket List Work
When creating the bucket list, leave flexibility to substitute an activity or skip it and come back to it at a later time. For instance, I’ve never ridden in a hot air balloon, but I did ride in a helium balloon recently and I consider it to be the same bucket list item. So, if its not possible to make a hang-gliding outing work, consider if a parasailing adventure would fit the bill. Compromise can be crucial in making some aspects of a bucket list work.
Don’t set time restrictions on achieving bucket list goals as it can create stress due to imagined deadlines. Using a loose time frame can allow you to take advantage of off-season rates or allow time to save for a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Research activities and sign up for newsletters alerting you of sales pertaining to your activity. Tackle activities as opportunities present themselves. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun and bring a camera.
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