2022: My Bucket List

When I think of a bucket list, I think of things like skydiving, bungee jumping, etc… but my list for this year consists of much more achievable goals. In this post, I will share and explain the activities and experiences I would like to have in 2022. Then, at the end of the year, I will write another post to share the items on the list I have completed. Hopefully, it will be enjoyable to read, and you may begin to think about some of your own goals that you wish to achieve.

Personal Goals:

To start, I will outline some of the broader aspects of my bucket list (if you want some more light-hearted lists then feel free to skip this section):

• I hope to reduce my anxiety in my everyday life. As I explained in my blog post about “growing up,” the past few months to a year have been quite hectic, so my stress and anxiety levels have been at an all-time high. However, hopefully, now that I can drive and I have become more comfortable with my job and Sixth Form I can finally focus on becoming more productive and relaxed. I aim to become a more positive person by the end of the year.

• I want to enjoy this year as much as possible. I am aware that next year marks me leaving home to go to University, therefore I want to enjoy this year of having much less responsibility as much as I can. I want to travel with friends, create memories, etc… which are things I will touch on later in this post.

• Finally, I want to live in the moment much more. Instead of worrying about what has happened or what is going to happen, I want to go through this year day by day and appreciate what each activity, person, and learning experience brings to me at that time. I have found that in the past, certain times of my life became a blur or a distant memory because I was too busy thinking about other things instead of enjoying what was happening at present. I do not plan on doing that this year.

Study Goal:

Get into Oxford University - This is not just a goal for this year, but has been a goal of mine for a very long time. All the hours I have spent studying and revising have been to gain a place at a prestigious University to prove to myself that I can. It would also allow me to learn about the subject matter, which would currently be Physics, at the highest standard possible, which would enable me to push my limits and hopefully grow much more as a person. The process of achieving a place at Oxford begins in the middle of the year when I will begin to build an evidence base and start to write my personal statement, and then I will hear whether I have been accepted towards the end. This goal brings added pressure, which may not be entirely motivational, but I plan to use it to encourage more success and hard work.

Travel Goals:

• Go for a weekend away with friends - Currently, this centres around taking a trip to Brighton. We would do this later in the year once I have turned 18, so that we have an adult to allow us to stay in hotels, and have become more confident in driving. This independence is quite daunting, but until I push myself outside of my comfort zone I cannot gain these experiences. A friend and I have also booked a 'Glamping' trip for this year, which I am very much so looking forward to. The reason this is not on my bucket list is that it is already booked, so does not qualify as a "goal." But it is something that I am still excited about.

• Go on a road trip - Whilst the idea of long-distance driving does not excite me too much, I would love to get in the car with friends and travel to different areas of the country. This will allow us to explore different places and just have a fun few days/week.

• Have a picnic in Greenwich Park - This may seem like a strange one but it’s something I would love to do. The scenery in this part of London is amazing, so the thought of having a picnic in the hot sunshine there sounds great.

• Go to Southend with friends - Obviously being able to drive opens up endless possibilities of places that we could go to, but much like going to Greenwich Park, Southend (I am referring to the theme park) sounds like it would make for a fantastic day.

Other Goals:

• Get a tattoo - This has been something I have always thought about but have never known what I would get. My current plan is to have a small-medium design on my upper back, involving a bird to symbolise something meaningful to me. I turn 18 this year so this goal is entirely achievable, however, I am extremely indecisive when it comes to committing to something such as this so we shall see whether I go through with the decision.

• Find a hobby/interest - Having given up on many sports over the years and now not having any other interests to fill that space, I want to find something productive that I enjoy. Whether this is drawing, exercising or anything that has a positive impact, I want to find something that truly interests me.

To summarise, all of these goals are things I hope to achieve by the end of 2022, a year that is sure to be as intense as 2021 but hopefully will allow me to grow just as much. I look forward to writing the follow-up post from this in 10 months, sharing whether I was able to stick to this list and make this year the most impactful one yet. I hope you enjoyed reading and stick around for what is to come in the future!