Tips for a Bucket List

Feeling like you don't have a purpose?  Do you want to try something new?  Do you want to feel accomplished?  Do you want to do something for yourself?  Are you goal-driven?  These are all good reasons to make a bucket list!

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

What is a bucket list?

A bucket list is a list of things you want to do sometime in your life.  These can include a range of the most hypothetical, crazy dreams to the most realistic ideas you have your eyes set on next.  They can be short term or long term.  In this blog post, I refer to them as ideas, dreams, goals, or items.  The name "bucket list" stems from the term "kick the bucket" (which refers to death); so you want to do these things before you do just that!

Significance of a bucket list

          A bucket list sets goals.  It can give you a personal purpose when you feel like your life is meaningless and boring.  If you have dreams, but you don't have the time or money, simply writing them down can feel like one step closer to accomplishing your dreams.  An organized list forces you to consciously think about your goals.  Goals are important to us humans because we live long lives full of many possibilities, but at the same time, life is short.  A bucket list makes it easier to plan our lives with things that will bring us true joy outside of our daily monotony.
          Once you start working on an item in your bucket list, it's exciting, stimulating, and healthy.  Life can get boring and frustrating at times for all of us.  Every little positive counts!  A bucket list also helps you express creativity.  It is completely free, there are no rules on what you can and can't do when it comes to a bucket list!  In deeply thinking about what you want to do in life, you may discover ideas and even life values you never knew you had!  You can really get in touch with yourself, something that is crucial to one’s self-esteem, identity, happiness, and relationships.

Tips for a bucket list

1. Do it for yourself!

In this work-obsessed culture, there is plenty of motivation to work hard.  We do the work for bosses, family, teachers, or those in need.  Where is the time to work for ourselves?  That's what a bucket list should be about.  If you don't want to volunteer at a nursing home, then don't write it on your bucket list.  If you want to spend thousands of dollars on an extravagant vacation all for yourself, write it down!

2. Don't hold back

Speaking of extravagance, don't hold back your dreams!  This doesn't have to be realistic.  In reality, it's just a list.  So don't be afraid to write down costly, time consuming goals if you don't have the time or money.  The future is unknown, and we can only plan to an extent.  So I say, why not?  These aren't plans or what you can do, they are whatever you want to do someday.

3. Keep it updated

Any new ideas you should write down!  It's in our selfish nature to want things - that doesn't go away entirely with age or maturity.  So if you are inspired by your cousin's trip to Africa, for example, and for a fleeting moment want to go on a safari, go back to your bucket list during that fleeting moment.  Even if you don't get any new dreams or goals, it's a good idea to check your bucket list periodically for a mood-booster, reminder, and motivator.

4. Save the old ones

Unfortunately, there will be dreams you once had that cease to inspire you anymore.  That's okay.  But before highlighting it all and hitting delete or using that good old-fashioned eraser, make a copy of your old bucket list.  Five years from now you might want to go back and see what your dreams and aspirations were.  It's interesting and sometimes shocking to see growth and development from life experiences in the five-year difference between two bucket lists of the same person.  (Yes that was a long sentence)

5. Organize the time periods

Organizing your goals within time periods will help you actually accomplish some of them.  For example, I organize my bucket list with four categories: monthly, yearly, decade, and lifetime.  You don't need to have anything in a monthly or lifetime time period, those are just examples.  I fill my monthly section with items that are possible to accomplish within the months time.  For example, getting bangs (simple) or shaving my head (drastic).  Even though riding a horse would take only a day, I currently don't know anyone with a horse, so I put that on my yearly section.  Another goal in my yearly section is to knit a sweater, because that's not a one-and-done deal; it will take time.  If you have the capability, I suggest trying to accomplish one thing from each section in your list within the provided time.  Or at least think about it.  That's definitely some extra motivation for you!

6. Write down what you've accomplished

This is just for a confidence boost.  It's so easy to forget what we've accomplished when we are hyper-focused on what we need to do better!  Seeing what you've done reaffirms that you are capable of trying something new, stepping out on that ledge, and willingly entering the unknown and scary. It encourages you to not remain static but to continue putting yourself in new situations where you can grow.

Example Bucket List

• What I've accomplished 
• consistent 5 minute plank
• rock climbing on real nature rocks
• been to the ocean
• tried sushi
• Monthly
• ride a motorcycle
• try the keto diet
• try cricket flour 
• donate blood
• Yearly
• ride a horse
• knit a sweater
• have a pet snake
• see the Grand Canyon
• Decade
• go to Spain
• learn to speak Spanish
• publish a cookbook
• make a successful blog 😉(still a WIP!)
• Lifetime
• live in my dream house
• breed a pair of cats
• visit every national park