I realized recently that I have a weird obsession with lists.  I use them for everything and the feeling of crossing the last item off your list feels great and horrible at the same time.  Horrible because it means your list is done – great because you get to make a new list.  I understand and acknowledge this is a problem… there are worse obsessions out there.

My best friend is getting married in less than 2 weeks and she sent me the list from www.theknot.com and I got excited.  She has almost everything completely under control, but knowing that I might get to help her cross one thing off her list was thrilling.

lists

I know that I have a few people in my life that are tired of hearing how awesome I am… I mean, how excited I am about my 30 before 30 list and that’s OK.  I completely understand what it’s like to feel lost without a purpose, so I’m making an attempt to help 🙂  I had a blast helping my friend, Janna, come up with her list a few weeks ago and now another friend, Chelsea, has decided she wanted to come up with one.  Here are my recommendations for creating a “list” of things to do (doesn’t just have to be a 30 before 30 – it could be a 37 before 35 – you get my point.)

  1. Make sure you can afford the things you place on your list.  I think putting at least 3 free things on your list is helpful – finish a project you’ve started, walk around a new neighborhood that you’ve never been to, complete a fitness goal you’ve been thinking about.
  2. TRAVEL – be prepared to bust out of your comfort zone.  It is so exciting to experience places that you’ve never been.  Pick something EXTREMELY random and be specific about it.  For example, I wanted to see a Broadway show in Times Square and it was awesome.
  3. Include your significant other or close friends.  Take them somewhere that you absolutely love.  Share a hobby that they think is weird and help them appreciate it.
  4. Include your family.  If you have parents that you love & respect (or grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles…) then you will feel your heart get happy by doing something for them or with them.
  5. Learn something new.
  6. Try something in the food or drink category.  The Food Network is extremely helpful in this regard.
  7. ROADTRIP – always include a good road trip.  If you’ve never sang Sister Christian while driving down a two lane highway, then you really haven’t lived… seriously.
  8. Inspirational – include something religious or inspirational.  Attend a service at a church you’ve always driven by or wander around and appreciate the latest art exhibit at a quiet museum.  Take some time and dig deep inside and find some inner peace.  It’s not the easiest thing to do for everyone, but you may discover something you never knew calmed you.
  9. Put one thing down on your list that may seem impossible, but you know exactly what you need to do to work towards that goal and even if you get to the end and it didn’t happen, you are able to confidently say that you did everything you could and you had fun doing it.  (plus, it gives you the first item on your next list.)
  10. Did you write down some “free” things?  Awesome, now bust open your piggy bank and grab all the money you haven’t already spent travelling and treat yourself.  What a fantastic way to end your list.
Need inspiration?  Check out the rest of my blog.  I share my own list and my adventures surrounding it, along with my husband and my best friend, Katie.  Happy Listing!