[Turning 'Someday' into 'Today': A Blueprint for Achieving Your Long-Held Aspirations]-[Do what you've always wanted to do]

The Bias of Procrastination: Why We Delay Our Dreams

In the latest episode of Before Breakfast, host Laura Vandercam challenges listeners to re-evaluate the common habit of deferring personal desires. We often find ourselves saying, "I’ve always wanted to do [X]," yet these goals remain perpetually stuck in the realm of future intentions. Vandercam points out that many of these aspirations are "eminently doable," yet they are frequently abandoned for "no particular reason" other than a lack of intentional planning. She shares her own experience of waiting years to visit the Philadelphia Miniatures Show, despite it being less than 45 minutes from her home. Even when circumstances were less than ideal—such as a delayed flight—she realized that the effort required to attend was minimal compared to the joy of being "entranced" by the collection. This highlights a critical lesson: we often perceive barriers to our hobbies or interests that do not actually exist.

Distinguishing Between Dreams and Doable Adventures

Vandercam acknowledges that not all goals are created equal. While some ambitions, like "writing a book or traveling to India," require significant long-term planning and resources, the majority of the things we claim to want are surprisingly accessible. These might include trying a "new restaurant," visiting a local "museum," or exploring a shop that we "frequently drive by but have never gone in." The key is to distinguish between high-effort life milestones and the small, neglected experiences that bring richness to our daily lives. By categorizing our desires, we can prevent ourselves from feeling overwhelmed and start taking immediate action.

The Strategy: Planning Small Adventures

To move from passive wishing to active doing, Vandercam suggests a practical time management framework: "planning one big adventure and one little adventure every week." This strategy forces us to put our desires "on the calendar," transforming vague intentions into concrete appointments. When we commit to these small adventures, we break the cycle of wistfully talking about experiences and start integrating them into our routines.

Creating Your 'Always Wanted To' List

For those who feel stuck in the habit of procrastination, Vandercam proposes a structured exercise: creating a list of "10 things you have always wanted to do or have been meaning to do." This list serves as a tangible roadmap for the year. She encourages a diverse mix of activities, such as:

• Culinary experiences: Trying new recipes or visiting specific restaurants.
• Local exploration: Visiting nearby towns, museums, or unique shops.
• Skill development: Learning a new language like "Spanish" or picking up a hobby.
• Entertainment and Leisure: Finally watching that movie or reading that book you've kept on your shelf.

By tackling one item from this list every week or month, you effectively "knock out the list" while simultaneously breaking the habit of inaction. Ultimately, this approach is about "making the most of our time." By shifting our mindset to prioritize these doable adventures, we stop waiting for the perfect moment and start creating the experiences we have been craving, proving that with a "tiny bit of planning and thought," our long-held dreams are well within our reach.