5 things you should add to your bucket list

“Who knows what will happen tomorrow?” this quote is repeated by people all over the world. The saying is a reflection of our understanding that life is fragile and that we should make the most of each day.

Creating a bucket list for yourself is a way to take a step back from your hectic daily schedule and reflect on the kinds of experiences you hold dear. The process of listing down your bucket list can even be as fun as checking them off your list. It gives you something to look forward to, especially during tough days at the office.

Make your bucket list meaningful to your aspiration or goals so you’re excited about checking items off your list, rather than thinking of items on your list as chores that you have to go out of your way to complete.

One note of caution is that you should try to keep your bucket list short and precise to ensure you actually get around to accomplishing it, or you could become overwhelmed if there are too many items on it.

Here are five things you should add to your bucket list this year to ensure you remain hopeful of the upcoming positive experiences as well as to give greater meaning to your live.

Everyone has a list of places they want to see in their lifetime. This is why you should make it a point to discover the world and embrace new experiences every year.

Whether it is to soak in magnificent natural landscapes, pose beside iconic tourist attractions, taste authentic dishes from unique cuisines in their native land or encounter new cultures and perspectives, travelling always provides a great sense of fulfilment.

This break from mundane routine allows you to take your mind off the stress you may be facing, reinvigorate your energy levels and offer you the chance to reflect on your life.

Even when you travel to the same country or location as your friends, you can still end up with vastly different experiences, and this is what makes travelling so personal and rewarding.

Many people underestimate the amount of exercise they are able to clock while doing household chores.

Sweeping and mopping your house means having to walk all over your house, at least twice. Moving your furniture, such as your sofa set or bed to get to the hard-to-reach places require some heavy lifting. Cleaning the toilet includes exerting muscle power into removing stains, grime and dirt on your bathroom floor and tiles.

At the end of the day, a cleaner home also means more hygienic living conditions for you and your family.

The Singapore government is right about upskilling yourself. Besides becoming more employable, learning a new skill can be fun and satisfying.

You can learn how to edit your travel videos, start investing in stocks of companies you shop at, try your hand at building furniture for your home or even learn to start a fire for when you’re out camping. These skills can give you a strong sense of accomplishment, and may even be helpful for your future career progression.

No, we’re not saying quit your job and lay everything on the line in a quest to start your own business. In fact, quite the opposite – stay in your job but build a side-hustle that brings in some extra money.

Doing this can be an educational and enriching experience. You’ll appreciate the kind of stress bosses face on a daily basis. You are also likely to hone your skillset and business-understanding to produce a valuable service.

Furthermore, being more business-savvy can make you a valuable employee, putting you in the position to do a better job which could lead to a future promotion and/or pay-raise.

At the end of the day, if your side-hustle becomes profitable enough, you could very well take the plunge and go full-time. However, in the meantime, just enjoy earning a few extra bucks while knowing you’ve created a valuable business.

No bucket list is complete without getting to splurge on something that you’ve always wanted.

Again, we’ve got to qualify this statement by reminding you that we are not telling you that it’s time buy a new home or car. It’s really more about treating yourself to an overpriced spa you’ve longed to pamper yourself to, an original Tottenham Hotspur jersey you can proudly wear to support your favourite team or a Michelin-star meal at a fine dining establishment that you’ll savour.

While it is important to be financially prudent by saving and investing your money, life is about living as well. Without having a little bit of fun or treating yourself to some guilty pleasures, you may become exhausted or lose sight of what’s most important – health and happiness.

Of course, you can personalise your annual bucket list to include various other experiences and activities you’ve always craved. When you’re financially secured, you can Be Life Confident enough to create and check items off your bucket list while still knowing you’re being prudent for your future.

From as little as $6.60 a day^[1], AIA Pro Achiever allows you to continue investing for your future financial goals and retirement while maintaining the flexibility to enjoy life’s every moment in the short-term.

This means you enjoy being able to withdraw from your policy during major life events such as buying a new home or paying for your child’s education while still retaining a stable long-term investment plan to grow your wealth for your retirement.

AIA offers solutions that are made simple to keep up with your every-changing wealth accumulation and protection needs. With up to 30% savings on selected plans from now till 30 April 2018, there’s no better time to get your financial planning on track. So take the first step to Be Life Confident. Speak to us at 1800 248 8000 or visit www.aia.com.sg/BeLifeConfident.

^[1]Derived from the minimum annual premium of S$2,400.