Why building a bucket list is a great idea (2024)

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (1)

First thing’s first, what exactly is a ‘bucket list’?

Simply put, a bucket list is a collection of goals, dreams and things you wish to achieve before you die, or ‘kick the bucket’. What is on your list is totally unique to you, and so is the way you choose to store or present it!

You may want to write your bucket list down in your favorite notebook, or display it on a chalkboard or corkboard in your home. If you’re the creative type, you might even store your list’s items in a beautifully decorated jar, ready to get them out whenever you need a little inspiration. The magical thing about writing a bucket list is that it is a personal experience, therefore, there is no right or wrong way to go about it.

There are many reasons why creating a bucket list is a great idea. Above all else, writing down your heart’s desires somehow makes them feel more achievable, and may even make you more likely to go out and do the things you really want to.

What’s more, the act of writing your bucket list can be therapeutic in itself. It allows you to express your creativity without any constraints. With your bucket list, anything is possible, all you need to do is dream!

So, what should you actually put on your bucket list?

Well, that’s up to you! The limits really are endless, but many common bucket list items are related to travel or events, charity, physical endeavors or personally meaningful goals. You can go for the ‘classic’ bucket list ideas like skydiving or running a marathon, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be filled with wild adventures if that’s not what you’re into.

Many people choose to include things on their bucket list that are very meaningful to them on a personal level, despite being relatively ‘small’ things. For example, you may wish to travel to another part of the country to visit a family member, raise money for a charity that’s close to your heart, or maybe you want to do something as simple as creating a family tree or reconnecting with an old friend you’ve lost contact with.

And contrary to what you may think, retirement is the ideal time to write yourself a bucket list (and check things off!) Without the time and commitment barriers of work, you are free to devote your time to everything you’ve always wanted to do.

So, make a cup of tea, find your favorite notebook and pens and start dreaming – there’s no time like the present!

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (2)

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (3)

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (4)

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (5)

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (6)

Why building a bucket list is a great idea (2024)

FAQs

Why building a bucket list is a great idea? ›

Above all else, writing down your heart's desires somehow makes them feel more achievable, and may even make you more likely to go out and do the things you really want to. What's more, the act of writing your bucket list can be therapeutic in itself. It allows you to express your creativity without any constraints.

Why is the bucket list important? ›

Bucket lists are important for many factors such as creating a legacy, pushing your boundaries, gaining knowledge, and finding activities that give you joy. Accomplishing goals can do so much for students by helping them get out of their comfort zone and find inspiration in life.

Are bucket lists a good idea? ›

Creating a bucket list can be a great way to focus your thoughts & intentions and find some direction in your life. Bucket lists can be very specific or very broad, depending on what you'd like to accomplish and how quickly you'd like to achieve each accomplishment.

What exactly is a bucket list? ›

A bucket list is a list of the experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. A bucket list is an itemized list of goals people want to accomplish before they “kick the bucket” — or die.

What is the power of a bucket list? ›

There are many benefits to having a list of dreams and aspirations. A bucket list forces you to look at the life you are living and the life you would like to say you've had. If these two lifestyles are nothing like each other, this can provide motivation and inspiration to begin living a life you desire.

What is the key message of the bucket list? ›

It is easy to forget, though, that the real message of the movie is summed up by one item on their list: Help a complete stranger for the good. That's what each man does for the other in the few months they share. The movie popularized the bucket list idea.

What is the science behind bucket lists? ›

Positive psychology research suggests that the latter items are more important for a fulfilled life. Regardless of their details, bucket lists embody what psychologists have learned about goal-setting. Goals can motivate us to accomplish things, but the most motivating goals are those that are hard and specific.

Are making to do lists good? ›

To-do lists are powerful tools for achieving both personal and team goals. By breaking down larger objectives into manageable tasks, they create a clear roadmap towards success.

What is 1 thing on your bucket list? ›

55 bucket list ideas to help you live your life to the fullest
  • Sleep under the stars. Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Getty Images. ...
  • Visit your dream destination. France? ...
  • Go back to school. ...
  • Learn how to paint. ...
  • Read 100 books in a year. ...
  • Jump out of a plane. ...
  • Go on the most romantic date ever. ...
  • Bake a cake from scratch.

Why is bucket list called bucket? ›

Zackham coined the expression "bucket list" after he wrote his own "List of Things to do Before I Kick the Bucket" and shortened it to "Justin's Bucket List". The first item on his list was to "get a film made at a major studio".

What is the literal meaning of bucket list? ›

Sense 2 (“list of things to accomplish before one's death”) refers to kick the bucket (“to die”), bucket in this sense possibly referring to a beam to which a pig is hung by its heels after it has been slaughtered (possibly from Old French buquet (“balance; trebuchet”)).

What is the meaning of bucket list today? ›

: a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying.

Do most people have a bucket list? ›

Only 4% of survey respondents said they didn't have a bucket list.

How do I prioritize my bucket list? ›

Give each bucket list item a number. Item #1 is the item that would bring you the most joy and give you the most excitement. Item #2 would be the second-place item, #3 would be third-place and so on until you are finished.

How to create a life list? ›

Some tips for The List:
  1. Think big, think tall, write it all. Brainstorm. ...
  2. If you can do it any afternoon, it doesn't belong here. ...
  3. It needs to be measurable. ...
  4. Number them, order them… ...
  5. Make growing your list a priority. ...
  6. Talk to your friends and family about The List. ...
  7. When you accomplish something, don't remove it.
Mar 26, 2010

What does The Bucket List teach us? ›

We should all try new things more often. There's so much out there to be experienced that it's almost an insult to not do anything about it. If there's something that's been on your mind a lot that you've wanted to do, just go do it. Take someone with you.

What is the psychology behind bucket lists? ›

A bucket list is an attempt to make life memorable and is consistent with Daniel Kahneman's peak-end theory, which holds that what people remember from hedonic events are their peaks. No peaks - no memories, or at least not very crisp ones.

What is the meaning behind The Bucket List movie? ›

If you overlook the language and raunch-factor—a sizable order—The Bucket List has a nominally uplifting message: Family, friends and even faith are, at the literal end, more worthwhile than all the money in the world.

What is the meaning of one of The Bucket List? ›

a list of things a person wants to achieve or experience, as before reaching a certain age or dying: a bucket list for a terminally ill patient; What's on your summer bucket list?

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