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What’s on Your Bucket List?

Dr. Lisa Watts



What is a bucket list and how do you make one for yourself?


Explore these bucket list ideas to create your bucket list.


A bucket list is a list of experiences one wants to have before they die. Often, a bucket list includes big accomplishments, travel, and fun things we’d like to experience in our lives. Given that engaging in positive activities is good for our well-being (Catalino, Algoe, & Fredrickson, 2014), checking off things on our bucket list may also be good for our well-being. Simple pleasures may be especially beneficial to our well-being since contentment is thought to be central to what it means to live a fulfilling life (Cordaro, Brackett, Glass, & Anderson, 2016).


So, let’s get started exploring ideas so you can create your own bucket list!


Bucket List Ideas

Here are some common things that might go on a bucket list:


1. Go to college

2. Fall in love

3. Get married

4. Find a job you enjoy

5. Have kids

6. Buy a house

7. Retire


For many people, travel is a big part of their bucket list.

So here are some ideas that might involve travel:


1. Swim with jellyfish

2. Go on a cruise

3. Stay at a bed and breakfast

4. Go on safari

5. Hike in a rainforest

6. See penguins in their natural habitat

7. Go to an aquarium

8. Attend a luau

9. Stay in a tiny home

10. Stay in an underwater hotel

11. Stay in an ice hotel

12. Travel in a train

13. See all seven continents

14. Go wine tasting at a vineyard

15. Visit a butterfly sanctuary

16. Take a hot air balloon ride

17. Live in a foreign country

18. Visit all 50 US states

19. Walk on a glacier

20. Sit in a hot spring

21. See the northern lights

22. See redwood trees

23. Go snorkeling

24. Swim with dolphins

25. Learn how to hula


Is travel not really your jam? Here are some more fun bucket list ideas:


1. Run a marathon

2. Finish reading a classic novel

3. Set a Guinness world record

4. Go sky diving

5. Go bungee jumping

6. Go parasailing

7. Ride a motorcycle

8. Learn how to skateboard

9. Learn a different language

10. Be in a parade

11. Ride a mechanical bull

12. Go skinny dipping

13. See your favorite band in concert

14. Go kayaking

15. Learn some magic tricks


In addition to doing fun things, we may also have some career-related things we want to put on our bucket list. Maybe we want to climb the ranks in our job or make a certain amount of money. Here are some more ideas:


1. Become an expert in your field

2. Mentor someone

3. Master a new work-related skill

4. Speak at a conference or event

5. Start a business

6. Lead a major project

7. Write a book

8. Teach a workshop

9. Take a job in another country

10. Become a philanthropist

11. Go back to school for your Master’s or PhD

12. Achieve financial independence


Finally, here are a few more unique things you might want to add to your bucket list:


1. Support a cause that’s important to you

2. Paint a painting

3. Go green

4. Host a natural disaster refugee

5. Ride in a limo

6. Go vegan for one month

7. Try acupuncture

8. Conquer a lifelong fear

9. Dye your hair a fun color

10. Get a tattoo

11. Get a six-pack

12. Become a black belt in karate

13. Reach your goal weight

14. Knit a sweater

15. Learn how to snowboard

16. Learn how to ski

17. Learn how to surf

18. Learn how to code

19. Learn how to play an instrument

20. Learn how to drive a stick shift

21. Go on a blind date

22. Be on TV

23. Eat at a Michelin star restaurant

24. Start a garden


Final Thoughts on Bucket Lists


Making a bucket list is a fun way to clarify which activities and experiences you think will bring you joy and life satisfaction. As long as you don’t get too caught up in feeling like you have to do them all, this list can help serve as a road map for creating a life you love.


References

● Catalino, L. I., Algoe, S. B., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2014). Prioritizing positivity: An effective approach to pursuing happiness?. Emotion, 14(6), 1155.

● Cordaro, D. T., Brackett, M., Glass, L., & Anderson, C. L. (2016). Contentment: Perceived completeness across cultures and traditions. Review of General Psychology, 20(3), 221-235


Dr. Lisa Watts
Psychologist
Atlanta, GA

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