Bucket Lists may motivate us toward big dreams, but they can also distract us from smaller treasures. As I wrote on my personal blog, sometimes the best accomplishments don’t require a passport, a pool of money or some dramatic declaration
So I rounded up 2016 Bucket Lists that will take you to all sorts of new places, though not necessarily very distant ones. The sort you can bring on ‘stay-cations’; the sort that encourage you to be a bold explorer in your own neighborhood. From bikram yoga to voting, swapping houses for a holiday and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, these entries are guaranteed to add adventure to your year in surprisingly simple ways.
- The Totally Achievable Bucket List – Marie Clarie has taken that sense of achievement from New Year’s resolutions and applied it to things that are wholesome, healthy, and actually easy to tick off. The craziest entries are ones you’ve probably considered a hundred times, yet never attempted – like ‘Crash a party’ and ‘Sleep in a treehouse.’
- Special Anniversaries In 2016 – If you do want to celebrate something slightly more grand this year, incorporate one of these unique anniversaries into your list. Lonely Planet supplies the extra special occasion, you decide on the must-do actions. Maybe read Frankenstein, to commemorate the character’s 200th birthday? Or applaud 100 years of National Park Service by hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome? The scale of activity is entirely up to you!
- National Parks Bucket List – With nearly 400 parks across the country, it makes sense to dedicate a separate list to America’s awesome environment. This list gives you important tips for camping and hiking, unique activities within the parks and special dates to mark on your outdoor calendar.
- Bucket List Mini Ideas – Peri10k stresses happiness and creativity with its compilation of little gestures that will leave a big mark on your overall 2016 well-being. They suggest picking just a few of the 52 ideas – such as keeping a journal every day for a week, or meditating for 5 minutes a day – and focusing all your energy on these.
- Adventures To Add To Your Bucket List – Dogsledding in Alaska might not be the easiest of achievements, but it’s one of several grand journeys on Outside Magazine’s 2016 agenda. These adrenaline activities will tear your attention away from the to-do list and toward the great outdoors.
- Make 2016 Resolutions Stick In The Sharing Economy – Shareable has revamped the traditional yearly bucket list, turning popular resolutions into opportunities for communal sharing. Don’t just “Lose weight” – lose weight by running with elderly neighbors, or join a neighborhood cooking network. And that common entry, “Be happy,” will be a thousand times easier when you get others involved.
Ready to work and volunteer your way around the world? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and RSS/email. Until the next adventure! ~ Kelli