This week’s episode of That Bad Review may stoke a bit of wanderlust in your heart.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Kingsmith, co-host of The World Wanderers podcast. Amanda and her partner Ryan have done what a lot of us would love to do — making careers out of travelling and having a great time.

Our chat covered everything from the challenges of travelling and working with a partner to the nitty gritty that goes on behind the scenes of a travel show. One thing we talked about though, which I think is a great concept, is drafting a bucket list.

I know. It’s not the most original idea. Everyone and their mother probably has a bucket list.

But I think there’s a big misconception when it comes to them. People often view bucket lists as a list of fun things that you’d want to do. Party in Bali, skydive, drive on the Autobahn.

Sure, that’s a great use for it. I think, though, that bucket lists can also be a great goal-setting tool.

Think about this: how would you live your life if you lived exactly the way you wanted? Not necessarily in a way that’s irresponsible or shirks any commitments you have, but in a way that makes you feel like every day (or most days, if we’re being realistic) are spent living with excitement and vigour?

I think we would change a lot about how we live. This doesn’t mean quitting our jobs to go on a backpacking trip and leaving our kids with their grandmothers. It could mean something like getting in shape, practising gratitude on a daily basis or pledging to be kinder to strangers.

Seeing Machu Picchu is awesome. But what if you helped someone out of depression? Or saved up enough money to buy your mother a house?

The idea here is that a bucket list doesn’t have to be about partying, sightseeing or other ephemeral pleasures. These things are wonderful, especially if you’re out there doing them with someone you really care about. The reality, however, is that most of us simply cannot afford to travel full-time.

The key is finding what you can do today. What you really want to do, even if it sounds impossible or difficult.

There’s a great quote by Henry David Thoreau: “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

What could you do today that would make you excited about life? Even if it’s just going for a 30-minute walk around your neighbourhood, there’s so much immediate action you can take to get your life moving in the right direction.

I love talking to people like Amanda because they remind me that life is of our own making. She’s a business owner that knew what she wanted in life and went for it. What could be better than that?

Listen to my entire conversation with Amanda here.