Fill your life with experiences, not things!

Us work from home people need to be careful we don’t stay home too much. With no reason or need to leave home for long we can get into the habit of just staying there.

A few years ago I wrote this blog post on getting out more often for Eventbrite. I thought I’d revive it now and share my own bucket list of business and personal things I plan on making happen this year (warning this list might grow and grow because it’s been too much fun thinking on great experiences I want in my life).

I was immediately interested in this topic because I need more experiences in my life. I don’t tend to be a collector of things and don’t like clutter I still seem to gather a good bit of “stuff”. Also, as an entrepreneur, I have to make a VERY concentrated effort to get out more often, be more social and basically not be a hermit who never leaves the house. You feel me?

So… I’m definitely making a pledge to get out more often this year and make more contact with the human world, not just the digital one ;).

Here are some of the ideas I came up with. Basically this is my “bucket list of things to do in 2025” to create more experiences and to avoid more things.

Coffee With Friends

This is so simple, yet so great. I love meeting up with my local friends for a chat and a coffee, or a walk through the mall. I intend to make it a point to find a friend to connect with at least once a month.

As I write this I literally have a coffee date planned with a friend tomorrow, so I must be ahead of the game!

Go to the Beach

We have a BEAUTIFUL local park that includes a beach, splash pad, full playground area and even an outdoor gym. It’s a really cool place and less than 10 minutes or so from there. As soon as the weather warms up this is a family destination, for sure.

This year I am going to see if I can make a business photoshoot (at that same beach) happen. I have a friend who’s a photographer and I’m wondering if she can grab her camera to do some on-location pics for me. Not sure if I can talk her into that or not but we’ll see.

Go to the Theatre

My son and I took the train to Toronto many years ago to see Phantom of the Opera. It was a really awesome thing to do with my teen son, who I really it’s not easy to find things to do together that we’d both like.

So… he’s all grown and left home now but I’m thinking a trip with both my kids to a production they’ll both like would be an awesome family outing.

Go to the Spa

There’s a beauty spa here in town that I haven’t even been to yet. This is the year… I’m thinking someone needs to gift me this for my birthday in January!

A friend of mine was talking about planning a spa day in Toronto, and I REALLY like that idea, too! I said “oh sure” when she mentioned it but we never set a date. After this blog post, I’m on it.

Girl time. Me time. Relaxing time.

Go to a Conference

I’ve been to a good few conferences over the years but since my little one was born they have been VERY few and far between. Matter of fact the last one I went to was almost 10 years ago! FAR too long!

It’s high time to change that. I LOVE business conferences and connecting with new people in that way. I met my friend Jen sitting in a presentation and chatting in between speakers and now we live 10 minutes away and meet regularly for coffee. Plus we’ve promoted and hired each other, too!

Attend Local Networking

Since the pandemic I haven’t been out to much locally at all and I really want to change that! It’s high time to connect with other, local business owners.

Go to the Movies

Movies are a great way to get out. We recently saw Moana 2 and loved it.

Go to Festivals

Festivals can definitely be a fun, affordable way to get out. There’s no time like NOW to start going to Google and Facebook and maybe, Eventbrite(?) to see what festivals are on the go.

Take a Vacation

When I wrote this back in 2017 we had a goal to take our daughter to Walt Disney World. We achieved that last year (2023), went again this year and are going back AGAIN next year, with friends! Goal accomplished!

I’m also a Disney specializing travel agent. I also book cruises, too. So travel is on the list for 2025 for sure!

Have a Backyard Party

Ok so weird and random: I have this pineapple tool that cuts the pineapple out in rings, leaving a full pineapple shell you could drink out of. Every time I use it Matt says we should have a party and use the hollowed out pineapples as drink cups. I agree. It’s the little things, lol.

This summer right before school our daughter threw a “pool party” for her friends. We rented a blow up slide, had a nice size blow up pool and a slip and slide and the girls had a blast.

So… this year we WILL have a backyard BBQ and we WILL be drinking out of cups made from real pineapples. Sounds fun, right?

Winter Festivities

There are so many great things, paid and free, you can do in the winter. Many places have free ice skating (I think?). Or you could drive around to look at the Christmas lights – some towns have amazing displays.

Another idea I heard was go to the small towns with the “hallmark” feel to them and grab a coffee or hot chocolate and pretend you’re in a hallmark movie. How fun does that sound!

I hope this inspires you to create your own bucket list of experiences to create this year. Winter is here, spring will arrive soon and there are things you can get out and do ALL YEAR LONG!