The wind blows through your hair as you gaze across the open water from the yacht you are sailing single handed, the crunch of your feet as you marvel at the ever approaching ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu. We’ve all got dreams, and so many of them involve travelling. It seems like the start of the New Year always makes us think about how we can change our lives and this time instead of a setting resolutions, which probably won’t succeed any way, we are going to make sure that we reach our travel goals, the ones we go to work for and have always said ‘someday’ about. You know, those bucket list ones? The once in a lifetime stuff that we should all have a little more of. But how do we make those dreams reality? Maybe it’s time to take a look at how we we’re going to give it a try.

Do you have one?

So many of us have vague ideas of the things we would do if we won the lottery or when we retire. How often have you heard a loved one say, ‘Wow, I’d love to do that, it’s one for my bucket list.’ How many people do you know who have actually written their bucket list down? Have you? Well, what’s stopping you? Grab yourself a cup of tea and a notepad and get to work. Let your mind wander and think of all the things you love and just write them down, don’t worry about what anyone else would think, this list is just for you. If you get a bit stuck or want some inspiration, why not look online or speak to some friends and family, you could even have fun writing your lists together. Keep adding to your list, this is a list that you can keep in progress, adding and crossing things off as you go.

Scrap it!

Right, so you’ve got your bucket list full of great ideas. Now throw it away. Wait, not literally, just figuratively. The problem with a bucket list is how we all think about it, it’s not really a bucket list, it’s an ‘in the distant future’ list. Most people get theirs, write great things on it and then never actually do any of it. Well, 2015 should be the year to change this, let’s not have a bucket list, have a wander list instead! We know, what on earth is a wander list? Well, it’s a lot like your bucket list except this one is going to get crossed off! Instead of thinking about a bucket list, the static thing that doesn’t really change, the wander list is just that, a fully ready to go check list that will motivate you to really do those things now. Go on, fill up your wander list with wonders, and start ticking some off!

Travellers' bucket list