Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman thought having one was a good idea. 

In the movie in which they starred, the two terminally-ill characters embarked on a road trip to complete as many “bucket list” items on their list before they died.

One need not be terminally ill before creating a bucket list though. I know of at least one friend who created her bucket list in her twenties - and she’s been crossing items off the list ever since. Don’t we all have things in our life that we say we want to do someday? That trip to the Amalfi Coast, jumping out of a plane by the age of 30, learning how to play golf, or just spending a fun-filled weekend in Newport.

Far too often, we say we’re going to get together with friends or visit a far-off place or attend a once-a-year event, but oftentimes life will get in the way, and unless a plan is made and put on the calendar, time passes and it just doesn’t happen.

Doing things that you enjoy and being with people you love brings untold joy in life. And writing down the things that we want to do and the people we want to do them with is the best way to ensure that we accomplish them.

This is what a bucket list is all about. It’s a sort of deadline. It could be a list of things you wish to do before entering a new decade or before the summer turns to fall. You could have a bucket list of restaurants you want to visit or a bucket list of books you are going to read in a year’s time. It is merely a list of goals you want to achieve, experiences you want to have in your life, or dreams you want to fulfill. 

Why Have a Bucket List

Be the driver of your life, not the passenger. 

Reflecting on what you want to do forces you to think about your goals and the vision for your future, examining what is truly important to you. What achievements, experiences, activities or skills make sense? Asking questions and thinking through the answers allows an opportunity to examine priorities. When this happens, you are the architect of your life. You become the driver. You take control of what it is you’d like to accomplish and what your future days will look like.

Life is short.

When you create your list, you are in a position to plan. There is a ready made list of fun things to do and dreams to accomplish. The “what” is removed. Now, you just have to figure out the when and how. Having a list gives you something to look forward to, and there is motivation to to get out and make things happen. Life is short. Having a bucket list pushes you to realize your true self and the version of life you want to live. You remove the temptation to get stuck in a rut.

Create your happiness and joy.

The exercise of creating a bucket list of dreams and goals brings happiness. You feel hopeful about your future days when you think about the possibilities that lie ahead. Maybe one thing on the list is to take a painting class at your local college. Perhaps, you want to go to a Red Sox game with the entire family. Thinking about and planning the experience brings excitement. Accomplishing the experience brings joyful memories. And another bonus - when asked what you want for your birthday, Christmas, or other holiday, you have a list of experiences you’ve thought about that you can share. Experiences over gifts!

Feel good about yourself.

Having a list of dreams is motivating, and checking off items the list is rewarding. You can take pride in completing your goals and this gives confidence. As you cross items off the list, there is a sense of satisfaction and pride. Taking action to accomplish your inner desires will bring a sense of appreciation for the life you are leading. Plus, in a social setting, think about all of the things you’ll have to talk about.

How our bucket lists change as we age

Bucket lists are meant to be fluid. Depending on where you are in life, the priorities on that list will shift. For the friend who started her bucket list in her twenties, there are things on it that have been removed, changed, or added over the decades. 

In a Forbes Health article, I found it interesting that survey respondents between the ages of 59 and 77 were focused on spending more time with family and friends (55%), prioritizing their health and well-being (52%), traveling to other countries (46%), and spending more time in nature (46%). Respondents over the age of 77, shifted their bucket list priorities with traveling leading the top at 87%, followed by finding a new hobby (78%).

For those who are still working and contemplating retirement, having a bucket list will help with the transition. For some retirees, there is a sense of loss, and without goals and dreams to look forward to, days could become a bit depressing. That same article in Forbes Health posits that over 47% of the respondents agree or somewhat agree that having a bucket list supports their mental health through retirement.

If that’s the case, my mental health should be just fine when I retire since I have many bucket lists. I have a travel bucket list of places I’d like to visit. Seeing the Keukenhof Gardens is on that list, as well as visiting other places like the Amalfi Coast, Switzerland, and all of the 50 United States. I have a weekend/day trip bucket list of things I’d like to do that are fairly close to home. I have an activities bucket list. Learning how to play pickleball and golf are two items on that list. And I have a personal goals bucket list. Getting my master’s degree was on that list, and I’m happy to say I crossed that one off. You can read about that journey here.

How to Begin

1. Find a quiet place to be alone with your thoughts.

2. Think about what you want to do in the next week, month, year.

3. Ask yourself questions and dream about the answers: 

• Are there places you’d like to see? 

• Do you have financial goals? 

• Are there adventures you’d like to participate in? 

• Are there interesting crafts or hobbies you’d like to take up? 

• What do you want to learn more about? 

• Are there ways you’d like to give back to your community? 

• What have you always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?

4. Keep a journal and pen handy and just jot things down as they come to you.

5. Organize the list (travel destinations, hobbies to learn, for instance) and set a time frame.

Somehow, writing it down makes it more real. I find that keeping the list handy is best for me. I can refer to it often and be reminded of all of my dreams. It’s my ultimate “to-do” list and inspires me every day. 

Unlike Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in the movie, Bucket List, my focus is not on checking things off before I die. My focus is on living. My bucket list gives me things to look forward to and helps me live with intention to enjoy the journey of all my days.