Have a Prime Time

An academic called Shing Xiong once said that 'in the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took but how many moments took your breath away'. Therefore, during your time on Earth, however long or short that might be, why not try one, or more, of the following:

Run a marathon

There’s no better feeling than working your guts out for something and then succeeding, and one of the toughest physical challenges you can take on is running a marathon. Don’t attempt to go straight from couch potato to marathon runner though. Do it in stages. To begin, build up to competing in a 5k race, then tackle a 10k, then a half marathon and then, and only then, try for the big one. And if you’re not one to do things by halves, and you get a taste for all this running, you can then progress to ultras (think 50k, 100k, 50 miles and 100 miles).

Laugh

When Winston Churchill said that ‘a joke is a very serious thing’, he wasn’t, erm, joking. Much research has been conducted that claims that laughing can relieve pain, reduce stress, boost your immune system, help you gain perspective and, best of all, work out your belly (no more crunches for me then - just a Michael McIntyre DVD). As Elbert Hubbart wisely stated: ‘Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive’.

Do something for charity

Altruistic acts can give you a sense of worth and a warm, fuzzy feeling inside but, much better than that, they can actually help other people out.

Learn to play a musical instrument

An excellent form of catharsis, it’s claimed that playing a musical instrument has other benefits too. It teaches discipline, makes you brainier (allegedly) and, well, is just fun really. So draw your curtains, get your saxophone out, put on your shades and make like you’re Charlie Parker (or maybe that’s just me).

Don’t worry

In a way, it’s good that you worry as it shows that you care, but if you never knowingly do things to upset or offend people then, well, just don’t.

Scare yourself silly

Jump out of planes and ‘whoosh’ down rapids. Battle through the initial ‘butterflies’ as there’s nothing better than the feeling you get from the release of epinephrine when engaging in extreme activities.

Travel

Traveling has the power to revitalize you. It helps you gain perspective and learning about other cultures and societies opens your mind. Also, dependent on where you go, you might just come away feeling mighty grateful for what you’ve got.

Have a go

Never be afraid to have a go at things, even if you fail. As Victoria Holt says: ‘Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful; if it’s bad, it’s an experience’. And, if you do crash and burn, those who judge you will inevitably be those who are too scared to try new things themselves.

Finally, being well-read is very commendable but don’t forget to lay down the books once in a while to embark upon your own adventures and create your own stories.