1. Why not?
You know you have a list rattling around in your brain of things you want to do before your children fly the nest. Why not write it down? You’re more likely to remember the ideas you have if you keep them securely noted somewhere. And you free up your mind from thinking about what you wish you were doing to enjoy what you actually are doing.
2. Capture the excitement.
Think about the mood your family experiences when you’re in the midst of a great vacation. It’s energizing. It’s inspiring. It makes you want to keep doing what you’re doing or return to the place you’ve visited again and again. Timeshare salespeople capitalize on this vacation high to convince you to buy in on their properties. Why not use the same tactic to solicit ideas for future adventures while your family is enjoying one? They’ll be more likely to sign on when they’re pumped up than during the school year doldrums where it’s hard to find energy for much of anything extra.
3. Seize the creative energy.
Good ideas beget even better ideas. That’s the thinking behind brainstorming. Each time you engage in an activity that reminds you of another you’d like to tackle, write it down. You may also find that summer vacation puts more fun opportunities in your path than you’re able to take advantage of. Whenever you have to pass something up that you had hoped to do or see, write it down on your list.
4. Make use of the mental space.
During the school year when you’re juggling many demands on your attention, it can be hard to think straight. But when you have downtime during the summer – whether at home or while away on vacation, your mind has a chance to settle. The free mental capacity allows for better idea generating. Take an afternoon to lie on a hammock or beach chair and allow your mind to drift. See what concepts take shape. Write the best ones on your list.
5. Spend well your family time.
Long car rides, lazy picnics in the park, days spent at the beach or the pool. Summer is full of non-pressured family time. One way to connect with your kids during those occasions is to pick their brains about what else they would like to do together. You could even turn it into an ongoing conversation that you return to in snippets throughout the week. Let “I’ve got another idea” become a catch-phrase in your family.
6.Get a head start on checking off your list.
Sometimes it can be a downer to brainstorm a bucket list when it seems like all of the ideas are out of reach. But if you start by writing down one or two things you already have planned for the summer, you’ll have the satisfaction of hitting a few targets right away . And when opportunities arise to accomplish new goals, you’ll jump at them because you know where they fit into your life’s priorities.
7. Swap out “just okay” for “totally awesome.”
What may seem like a great idea to us, the parents, may not appeal as much to our kids. Giving them the chance to share what excites them most may reveal alternatives to our summer plans. After all, wouldn’t you much rather have some totally awesome experiences together than keep dragging your kids on “just okay” excursions? You’ll get a better sense too of which ideas fit the ages of your kids and which ones need to wait a year or two when you talk about ideas together.
Question: when was the last time you brainstormed bucket list ideas with your family? Which of these reasons is the most compelling to you, in terms of having the desire to put your family dreams down on paper?
Learn more about bucket lists for families in my new e-book Family Bucket Lists.
Photo credit: “Crossing off a 3rd item on the list” by Kyle Clements on Flickr via CC License
