Someday – I’d love to – Later…

but none of us know how many more days we have, especially days with the health and mobility to do many of the things that may be on our “Bucket List”.

That truth can be a little sad, especially since most of us have stories of friends and family members who had finally made plans to do things they’d always dreamed of when they suddenly had a serious health event or passed away.  It’s been said that time is a thief, and age has a way of slipping up on us. So we have to be intentional about choosing the experiences that matter most.

The term “bucket list” does mean the list of things we want to do BEFORE we “kick the bucket.” So instead of putting it all off for a someday that may never come, let’s make a plan to actually start doing those things we’d love to do – now rather than later.  

Reframing the Bucket List (It’s Not a Fantasy List)

I’m not encouraging reckless spending or ignoring responsibilities, rather prioritizing what really matters to you and budgeting both your time and money accordingly.  

The first step is a change in mindset. Are there places or experiences that fill you with longing every time you see or hear mention of them? Mentally move from simply thinking it’s a nice idea to considering how it might become a reality. A wish list is different than a to do list. The one is nice, but the other we take acton to accomplish.

Prioritize What Truly Matters

Focus on what is meaningful to you without getting distracted by what is trendy. Sit down and literally make lists of all the places you want to go, all the experiences you’d like to have and all the things you’d like to learn. These can be independent of each other, but may work well if combined. For example, if you’ve always wanted to learn French and visit Paris – Voila!

While we may have things on the list that relate to different desires such as learning new things. The rest of this article will focus mainly on travel. Still, it can also be useful for prioritizing those other areas. 

If you can put your “Travel List” in a spreadsheet, great! Because, next we need to score your list with a scale from 10 – 1. The higher the number, the higher the priority. The 10’s should go to those things that mean the most to you. Middle scores to things you can do later, and the lower scores to the ones that would be nice if they happen. 

It’s okay to give multiple items the same number, it’s a score not a ranking yet. There were 25 destinations on my list. It may be helpful to ask yourself: “If I could only do 5 trips in the next 10 years, what would they be?” Those will have the highest score. 

If you travel solo, you now have your priorities set, and can skip the next section.  

Aligning Your List With Your Spouse or Travel Partner

If you travel with your spouse, it’s important to acknowledge that each individual may have very different travel dreams and determine a plan that works for both of you.

Start by combining your scored lists, and pull a column to total overlapping destinations. Then rank by the highest combined score.  These will be the places you want to visit together. For the others, you can opt to take turns – a kind of “yours, mine and ours”. 

It can also be great to travel with other friends and family. I’m fortunate to get to travel with my adult daughter. We’re currently planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast which was a 10 on my list but not on my husband’s. In turn, he has done small sports related trips with friends, and some great motorcycle trips with his dad. Admittedly, our girl trips have a different expense factor. So, we’ve worked that out. Good communication with your spouse is vital. 

Avoid the “Default Trip” Trap

Assuming we have limited time and finances with which to achieve our newly ranked travel goals, we need to be mindful not to use those resources on “default trips”. This is a big challenge for me as a travel advisor. I’m constantly seeing great deals, and planning fantastic itineraries for places that look wonderful. Maybe your family rents a beach house every year, or friends invite you to join them on a nice trip they’re taking. We love to do these things and maybe they can work in, but realize that each takes resources we could use for those places we just determined mean the most to us.   

Organize Your Bucket List So It Becomes Actionable

Now, let’s get a real plan together. Add some columns to your list that will help prioritize it further. One very important factor to consider is the level of physicality required. For example if you have both a European River Cruise and a visit to Machu Picchu high on your list, the latter should be done before the former as it requires much more physical endurance. As we age, some of our dream destinations will be much more difficult to navigate. So, give them a few extra points for prioritization.

A column of price range is also helpful. We tend to alternate an international (or more expensive) trip and a shorter domestic vacation to balance out the budget.

Choose the highest ranked and most practical destination to be your first goal. Then set a time frame in which you want to get there. 

Budgeting for Bucket List Travel (Without Guilt)

If something is on our Bucket List, it’s likely not an easy accomplishment, or a short, inexpensive trip. You may consider it a luxury, but consider the life value. Numerous studies show travel is good for your health, reducing stress, lowering heart disease risk, improving mood, boosting brain function, and even slowing aging by encouraging physical activity and new experiences, with benefits like less burnout, better sleep, and increased happiness reported, especially for those who travel more frequently.

Here are some tips:

• Create a dedicated “travel fund” and have a manageable amount auto draft into it each week. You may need to consider what is worth giving up to achieve this. For example, if you buy a Venti coffee each workday that would total to saving over $1,800 in a year plus interest. It’s a start
• Plan big trips 12–24 months out. Most travel vendors only require a small deposit that far in advance and you can typically setup installment payments. 
• Learn how to maximize credit card and loyalty points that can fund part or all of your trip. 

Remember: Tomorrow Isn’t Promised

There’s a popular phrase going around based on the novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – Before the Coffee Gets Cold. 

“Don’t leave anything for later. Later, the coffee gets cold. Later, you lose interest. Later, the day turns into night. Later, people grow up. Later, people grow old. Later, life goes by. Later, you regret not doing something when you had the chance”

and the sad truth is… later often becomes never. 

An Invitation to Begin

I honestly hope this encourages you to live life to the fullest, to think about what you really want to see and do before the days come to an end. You can start today by making your lists and looking at them with intention. Share them with your loved ones.  – Every journey begins with one step. 

Follow Creative Wanders Life for inspiration, ideas, and guidance.

Reach out when you’re ready to turn “someday” into a date on the calendar. Our team of travel advisors will be happy to help you get there. Visit us at: http://www.travelorcruise.com