You have been setting goals your whole life, such as – graduate college, achieve success in your chosen field, get married, have kids, save for retirement, etc. These goals have kept you motivated, focused, and driven. So why not apply the same thinking to everything you want to accomplish in life? Setting goals and creating a bucket list helps us articulate what we want to explore, focuses our attention, and helps us hold ourselves accountable to pursuing our dreams. That is why a bucket list is a perfect way to set your life goals and stay focused on making them a reality. If you haven’t created one yet, we’ve provided some great tips below to help you start.
How to Create a Bucket List
A bucket list is a list of the top things you want to do before you die. This can include places to travel, skills to learn, people to meet, and anything else that matters to you personally. To create your bucket list, try this four step approach:
Visualize What You Want. By drafting a bucket list you are visualizing your dreams. Writing them down will put them in front of you and keep them in your line-of-sight. This is the initial step in getting started.
Stay Focused and Create a Plan of Action. It isn’t a race, but you should think about how you will accomplish your bucket list items. After you have visualized your dreams, start thinking about how to accomplish them. Do you have to travel? Do you need to purchase tickets? Do you need time to learn something new? Do you need to save up money? By creating an action plan you have now begun your journey towards completing your bucket list.
Make a Commitment. Your bucket list will help you visualize your dreams, but you need to commit to chasing them. Whether it is 10 or 100 items, be committed to getting them done. You may even want to consider adding some of the items to a “leap” list. A leap list, as compared to a bucket list, is a list of things you want to complete before your next big “leap” in life. For instance, someone may want to run a marathon before they turn 40, or skydive before they turn 50, visit Paris before they are 60, or travel to china before they graduate with a Master’s degree. Creating a leap list may help you cross off these items in an exciting and celebratory way.
Have Fun! Your bucket list creates a fun way for you to get your dreams accomplished. This is for you, but it can be done with your family, spouse, and friends. Some items may take a few minutes to plan, while others might take months or even years. Either way, it is something you should enjoy. You will experience happiness and satisfaction in accomplishing personal goals that are important to you.
If you want additional help coming up with ideas check out The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small by Kath Stathers. It provides both location-specific activities as well as things that can be done just about anywhere. It’s a great place to start if you feel stuck or need inspiration.
A bucket list is a way for you to stay motivated with life goals. Make your list today and start planning. Get out there and chase your dreams today!
