Start making a bucket list, now!

Updated January 27th, 2022

A bucket list is something most of us have thought about making, but during these times of lock down, probably a really important thing to do at the moment as it will give us purpose for our future and something to look forward to. Because of the times we are living in, we are probably going to have times of restriction for a while and we don’t know when we will be back to living “normally”, so I propose that we make three bucket lists, a short, medium and long term bucket list of our goals.  You could also have bucket lists for business, family, summer or your teenagers, break your list down and divide them up into different categories if that helps you achieve them. A bucket list can work as an accountability list of all the things you want to do, achieve or accomplish in a specific time period or stage of our life or before we die or “kick the bucket”.

Bucket list terminology

• long term bucket list

The long term bucket list will be the full comprehensive list that will take us through for the rest of our lives and takes all of the overseas adventures we want into consideration.  It may be all about the future and go into our retired years.  It will include all the dreams that we haven’t been able to fit into our lives for various reasons and will maximise your life experiences.

• medium term bucket list

The second bucket list incorporates all of our medium-term goals and takes us through our own country for holidays.  It is about all the things we could fit into our life over the next five years.  It could be the “maybe we could do ….” List.

• short term bucket list

The short-term bucket list is a “now” type of list of the things we could do now, it is the easy and fun stuff to achieve.  We often don’t think of these things even when we do have free time, so it is really important to write them down so we can reference our list, and doing these things gives us a sense of achievement. The short-term bucket list is the list of things we can start working on immediately once we are let out of lockdown.   This list can be the most fun to work through and it is the list that gives us direction and satisfaction in our daily lives.

Bucket List techniques

• Where and how to write your bucket list

You can buy notebooks with dividers in them, this is a great idea so you can divide your ideas into the appropriate categories. Let’s not forget the trusty spreadsheet for computer-based people. Either method is valid, but dividing up into categories will help your clarity.  There is no point putting things like driving around Australia into the short-term list, or attending a live show in the long-term goal bucket list when you could do that in a few months. You can work on all three lists at the same time because there won’t be any order in the list you are making.  When you think of things you can open the book and put the suggestion on the list.  Don’t be afraid to cross things off if you change your mind about wanting to do them.

• What to put on your bucket list.

It will take you a while to compile your list of dreams, lifetime goals, and aspirations for your life and it is something you will be adding to for the rest of your life, which is why it is important to have a great book you can record all the dreams, adventures, places you want to visit or places where there is something you want to do will happen. Don’t be afraid to add the simple things in life that you want to do, books you want to read, movies you want to watch as well as places you want to go to.  Make some of the goals big and audacious, add in crazy and sensible things too, adding unrealistic things to the list can give you the motivation to step outside the comfort zone and try something new.

• Where to get Bucket List Inspiration

Television: Television travel shows can give you fantastic suggestions on what to put on your bucket list.  They describe areas of interest to you and give you suggestions on what you can do there.  The local area TV shows also describe local areas, raising awareness of the tourist attractions we often don’t visit in our own cities, also great local restaurants and cafes that are good for our short term bucket list. I often watch Postcards, a Victorian-based show that gives me suggestions on local cafes, little country towns, craft displays, and exhibitions that I can visit and put on my short-term bucket list which I then transfer into my diary to make sure it happens in my life.

Google hobbies and interests:  Google is a great source of information for places to visit, you can search all sorts of topics on interests you have, you might find great walks with fabulous lookouts, or incredible art galleries, specific museums on topics you are interested in that you won’t find in your local area. If you have a hobby you will often find exhibitions and classes on google that are all over the country that you can attend, so make the trip to the little country town and support a craftsman who can teach you a skill, often these classes aren’t as expensive as classes in the main cities too, so spend the money and stay the night at the same time.

Google Maps: Explore countries and regions using Google Maps to work out where you want to go and what you want to see.  You can work out agendas for trips and mark places you want to stop.

100 Love Light & Inspiration Bucket List ideas

Things to make and bake

1. Make your own jam
2. Make your own almond milk
3. Bake your own loaf of bread or sourdough
4. Brew your own boutique beer
5. Go on a food or wine tasting tour
6. Do a gin or rum masterclass or tour
7. Take a cooking class

Things you have always wanted to do, but never got around to. 

1. Sew a patchwork quilt
2. Make a list of the Golf courses you wanted to play on
3. Live performances you have wanted to go to.
4. Donate blood
5. Art and craft projects you always wanted to make
6. Plants and gardens you want to grow and create
7. Businesses you want to start
8. Charities you want to donate to or support
9. Have a high tea in an old famous hotel
10. Hire a car you have always wanted to own or drive
11. Stand up comedy or karaoke
12. Meet someone famous
13. Write a book about your life or a novel
14. Start writing a blog on a topic you are passionate about
15. Public speaking or presenting something in front of a large crowd.
16. Be on TV or interviewed on radio
17. Learn how to pan for gold
18. Waterfalls, rivers, and lakes you want to see
19. Volunteer somewhere
20. Re-kindle a lost friendship
21. Visit an old aunt or relative
22. Walk in your ancestors’ footprints
23. Animals you want to interact with
    1. swim with dolphins
    2. swim with wild turtles
    3. ride camel or a horse
    4. go whale watching
    5. cage dive with crocodiles
    6. go shark diving
24. Make a list of the music you want to learn or listen to.
25. People you want to visit or travel with
26. Design and build your own home
27. Write a song

Things you have always wanted to learn.

1.  Take a class to gain skills you want to learn
2. Join a bridge group and learn to play
3. Learn to play chess
4. Buy some shares and learn about the stock market
5. Buy a bottle of Australian Penfolds Grange and learn about collectible wine
6. Courses you want to attend
7. Languages you want to learn

Things to do for yourself

1. Books you have wanted to read
2. Movies you have always wanted to watch
3. TV series you were always going to watch
4. Join a yoga class, Pilates class, or some other type of exercise class
5. Spend a day at a health spa
6. Try a massage on your feet
7. Go shopping with a stylist
8. Buy some jewelry from Tiffanies
9. Have a professional photoshoot
10. Get a tattoo

Adventure and experiences

1. Hire a jet ski
2. Parasailing or white water rafting
3. Organize a group for an escape room adventure
4. Hire a houseboat for a week
5. Jetboat ride in NZ
6. Try bungee jumping or abseiling
7. Walk on fire
8. Do an advanced driver training course
9. Visit all the theme parks in the world
10. Have a glamping experience at a zoo
11. Ride in a helicopter
12. Attend a rodeo
13. Go to the Olympics
14. Make a list of the countries and continents you want to visit and all the things you want to do there.
15. Ancient temples you want to visit
16. Modern Wonders of the world
17. Natural wonders of the world
18. UNESCO world heritage sites
19. Adventure activities
20. Cities around the world
21. Tropical Islands you want to visit
22. Plane trips you want to take
23. River and sea Cruises you want to take

Things to do on weekends

1.  Road trips you want to take
2. Festivals you want to attend
3. Paintball or clay target shooting
4. Do a chocolate walking tour
5. Go to an oxygen bar
6. Flight simulator experience
7. Go skinny dipping
8. Wineries you want to visit
9. Cafés and restaurants you always wanted to go to
10. Bike rides you have always wanted to do.
11. Run a marathon or do a fun run
12. Beaches you wanted to visit
13. Go to a country retreat
14. Go go-carting
15. Take a quad bike tour
16. Hire a motorbike
17. Take a trike ride
18. Hot air balloon rides
19. Sky diving/bungee jumping
20. Ride in a race car
21. Have tennis lessons or play with a professional
22. Art galleries and museums to visit
23. Sporting events you want to see
24. Walks and climbs you want to do
25. Hotels you want to stay at
26. Little country towns you want to explore.
27. Places you want to swim, sail, ski

Now you have your list the challenge is to make things happen.  Give yourself a deadline or a date to achieve some things on your medium and short-term bucket list.  Use your diary to forward plan these things so you can cross them off your list, mark your diary with your future holidays and start planning them now, or, if you have a restaurant you want to visit, write the date you will have done this by on your bucket list and also pick a time in your diary you can do this and actually enter it into the diary so it does happen.

Having a purpose for the future, something to look forward to, the seasons ahead, a bucket list of people, places, actions, or achievements is important in any normal year, but particularly important during these times of restriction and lockdown. Including long, medium and short-term items on your bucket list will help you to stage your actions. Whatever the season, have fun with your bucket list and create an amazing life that you are excited to live.