Do You Have a Bucket List?

Want to live a fuller, happier and more meaningful life? Find out how you can achieve all these things (and more!) by creating your very own bucket list.

One of the best things about being a human is that our imagination allows us to dream and fantasize about all of the fun, interesting and exciting things we can do during our lifetime.

But turning our dreams into a reality is a whole other kettle of fish. And unfortunately, without a plan, your hopes and dreams will remain just that, dreams.

Why you need a bucket list?

This is why creating a bucket list is so very important. Not only will it inspire you to do more with the time you have, but it will also help you plan and tackle your ‘must-do’ bucket list items.

But why is it so crucial that you invest your time wisely by creating a list?

Well, I recently read that on average we have 30,000 days on this beautiful planet. 30,000. Which means if you’re 41 years old, you’ve already used up half of your days.

Pretty powerful, right? It kind of eliminates the idea of viewing Monday’s as days you simply have to ‘get through’ and of Wednesday’s as ‘Hump days’. And while all of us have commitments where we need to be at school, university or work five days a week, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the time we spend on these days. After all, if we didn’t, that would mean we’re only enjoying two days out of seven. Not a good figure, is it?

Now that I’ve (hopefully) convinced you of the usefulness of a bucket list, let’s delve into exactly what it is and how you can create your own.

What is a bucket list

Essentially, a bucket list is like a ‘to-do’ list for your life. And while some people don’t agree with using to-do lists (they think you should live more in the moment and be more spontaneous), I think a bucket list is a great way to capture all of your dreams in the one place and then feel inspired to go out and achieve them all.

The term ‘bucket list’ came from the phrase ‘kicking the bucket’. Meaning, a list of all the things you want to do before you kick the bucket (pass away). A bit brutal, sure, but incredibly effective.

A bucket list is also where you let yourself get wild and wacky, and think outside of the box about the things you’d like to see/do/experience/feel and enjoy during your lifetime.

It inspires you to achieve great things and pushes you to strive for more. It puts the ‘life’ back in your life.

It’s a place free of judgment and a place where you can just be you.

Your bucket list is like a little snap shot of your essence, of who you really are and who you want to be.

How to create your own bucket list?

If you’re keen to create your own bucket list, all you’re going to need is an hour of your time, a pen, a few pieces of paper and an open mind. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1. Get into the zone

Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Make sure you’re comfortable and have something to rest on while you write. I recommend playing some calming music, or hanging out at the beach for the afternoon. You can also light a candle or dab some essential oils nearby.

Spend a few minutes focusing on your breath with your eyes closed. This will get you in the right frame of mind to be creative and imaginative. If you’re not sure how long to spend, set a timer for five minutes. This will be enough time to get you feeling calm and controlled but isn’t so long that you feel tired or sleepy.

Step 2. Write down the lot

Next, start thinking about everything and anything that you’ve ever wanted to do. It can be as crazy as flying to the moon in a hot air balloon and as mundane as training to run five miles.

At first, don’t focus too much on the validity of your idea. Instead just brainstorm all of the wacky and wonderful things you can try.

Record your ideas on a sheet of paper (or a few sheets if you’re particularly creative!).

Step 3. Refine your list

Once you’re sure that you’ve exhausted all of the possibilities, you can start refining your list. I suggest using a star system. You can put three stars next to items that you would really, really, really love to do and two stars for things you’d love to do and one star for things you’d like to do. Anything below this gets cut from the list.

Step 4. The Bucket List!

Finally, it’s time to confirm your bucket list. Take out a fresh sheet of paper and start re-writing all of the ideas that have stars next to them. I’d order them from the items you most want to do to those that you’d like to do but wouldn’t be devastated if you couldn’t.

Don’t worry about how many items you end up with, you could have three or you might have 200. It’s a personal thing and it’s about YOU so don’t be fussed with whether your list is normal or not. There is no normal.

Step 5. Keep your list in a safe place

Once you’ve finished writing your bucket list, you should think about keeping it in a safe place that you can refer back to easily.

This might mean scanning your list and storing it electronically, or if you’re a bit crafty, you might like to roll it up and store it in a bottle or frame it in a colorful picture frame.

You might also like to take photographs of you achieving the things on your bucket list and then add them to a scrapbook or photobook. There are plenty of fun and creative ways to record your journey, so think outside of the box.

Whatever works well for you and inspires you, do it. After all, it’s your bucket list!

My only guideline is that you refer back to your list frequently. It’s all too easy to forget what we want to do with our lives when we get caught up in the day-to-day drama.

Set a reminder in your phone to check your list at list once every six months, this will keep everything fresh and motivate you to achieve things before this time so you can cross them off.