Preventing my annual "I did nothing all summer" crisis

I don’t know if it’s just me, but every time school ends and I start writing a bucket list, nothing comes up. Okay, maybe I was too dramatic. Of course I write down things like going to the beach, riding a bike, swimming, eating ice cream - the usual stuff.

And then I’m out of ideas. I go on Pinterest and find two or three more things to write down. But the problem is that these are the things I would do anyway. It doesn’t matter if I write them on my bucket list or not.  

And in a blink of an eye the summer is over, I’m sitting in school thinking of all the things I could’ve done. Sooo…why don’t we start writing a bucket list earlier?

Hear me out. I know that you don’t need another project (because we already have too much to do), but somewhere in your notes app, Google Docs, email, Post-its, wherever just start writing down some spontaneous activities or things you’ve always wanted to do. The point is, your bucket list doesn’t have to be made in one sitting. Every time something comes to mind, just write it down.

Like, while studying for a geography test I learned about swamps and thought about how cool it would be to watch the sunrise there. But, it’s always soooo busyy during the school year, so I just added it to my summer bucket list. That kind of simple to-do list actually motivates me to keep studying and to keep working hard. 

Now, during the school year, which is 9 months long, you could write down hundreds of silly ideas to do in the summer with family, friends or by yourself. 

For example these are some of my current ideas:

-going to the farmer’s market

-eating ice cream from an ice cream truck

-reading a biography of someone inspiring 

-watching the sunrise in a swamp

-trying a new sport (maybe golf??)

And by the time summer actually starts, you won’t be stuck thinking of ideas, you’ll already have a list full of things you’re excited to do.

Future you will be very thankful.