What do you want to do with your life? This can be a scary question whether you’re married, getting divorced, or single. But it can also be empowering, exciting, and fun. A bucket list can be a great way to prioritize what you need and want from life, especially now that you are planning your life separate from a partner. A recent Huffington Post article shares how working on a bucket list helped the author move on after her divorce: “with those accomplishments comes a confidence that I will always figure out how to turn those dead-ends into new paths lined with clarity and happiness.” Here are a few ideas about what to put on your bucket list post-divorce:
1. Plan to connect with your friends
While hopefully, you kept up your friendships during your marriage, this is a great time to go out and have some fun with the people who are still positive forces in your life. Setting specific goals around socializing could provide the motivation you need to actually do it.
2. Remind yourself to do something you’ve been meaning to get around to.
This doesn’t have to be something big. You could finally learn to play an instrument, balance your budget, or back up your computer. The key is to give yourself a boost in moving toward the future instead of staying stuck in the pain of the recent past.
3. Include something that makes you feel good about yourself (or that will help you on the road to getting there).
Whether you get a haircut, a gym membership, go to therapy to work out some of the things that are holding you back, or a journal to record your thoughts, doing something to make yourself feel better about your post-divorce self will help you see how great you are, something you might need a reminder about. Adriana Velez shared her bucket list with the Huffington Post, and she’s included items such as “Buy flowers for me” and “Get a theme song”.
4. Add something silly, fun, or adventurous to your list.
Whether you want to start saving for a vacation abroad, get a tattoo, or try deep-fried ice cream, trying something new and unusual can provide a much-needed reminder that change can be good.
5. Try dating again.
Putting this one on your list will help you to visualize a future where you could be in a happy relationship again. There’s no need to put too much pressure on yourself about when to check this one off the list (bucket lists, by their very nature, aren’t about getting everything done today), but preparing yourself for the possibility is healthy.
Regardless of what you put on your bucket list, seeing potential in the future and setting goals will help. If you need legal help with your divorce right now, contact us. We’re located in Southern Ontario and serve Barrie, Orillia, and Newmarket.
