10 Awesome Reasons Why You Need To Make A Bucket List

I’m a bucket list girl. I make one for everything! Month, Season, Year, Lifetime, Adventure, 5K’s, Books, Restaurants, etc. I’m going to list ten reasons why you need to create your own bucket list.

First, what is a bucket list?

Bucket List Definition:

NOUN informal

• a number of experiences that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime

Basically, goals you want to achieve, experiences you desire, dreams you want to fulfill during a certain time frame or ultimately before you die.

You’re deciding the highlights of your life! Nothing can be too big or too small.

Why You Need to Make A Bucket List:

1. Vision

A bucket list makes you think about what’s important to you. When you know what’s important, you can make better decisions in your life. If you want to see the world, then you’ll probably pick a month long vacation over putting in a pool.

2. Goals

It’s a fact that people who set goals achieve more in life than people who don’t. Whether it be finances, fitness, career, relationships or home life. I make smaller bucket lists, so those can help me knock off things on my ultimate bucket list. Small goals, big goals.

3. “Yes” Moments

Sometimes after I’ve had a long week, I just want to veg out in front of Netflix all weekend. One of my teens will usually come and start with the “We never do anything” whine. Instead of laying on my coach the rest of the day, I can say “Yes, lets go do something” I’ve got plenty of local activities on my list that I haven’t accomplished yet!

4. “No” Moments

Sometimes life can pull you in many different directions. Having goals can give you a reason to say no to things in your life that you need to say no too. There was a point I tried to be everything to everyone and ending up accomplishing nothing during that time in my life. That’s not a way to live.

5. Experiences

I love experiencing new things! Here’s some examples of things I’ve done: Zip lining, camping, shooting a gun, going through an escape room, rafting, going to a Pro Football game, seeing the Phantom of the Opera, etc. They don’t have to give you an adrenaline rush. It’s whatever you aspire to do! Experiences over stuff!

6. Bonding

When I’ve crossed things off my bucket list, most of the time I’ve been with someone. Usually the hubby, my kids, the whole family or with friends. It’s easy to bond over new adventures when you’re spending time together.

7. Self Reflection

Creating a bucket list gives you time to figure out what makes you, you. What are your likes? Dislikes? What makes you happy? If you have six months to live, what would be your top priorties? No two bucket lists will ever be the same, because everyone is different.

8. Explore Somewhere New

Exploring new places can be anything. I’ve got everything from a new trail to hike, to a new restaurant to a new city or country. Exploring will teach you more about yourself if you had a hard time with self reflection. Do you love long hikes in the mountains, wandering the streets of New York City, laying out on a beach or all of the above? That would be me!

9. Learn Something New

Learn a new language to use in a country you want to visit, learn to sew, learn how to take better photos, learn to scuba dive. When you start crossing things off your bucket list, you will learn a lot!

10. You Only Live Once

When you look back on life, do you want to remember only working 50 hours a week? Or if you’re a stay at home parent, only cleaning, cooking and rushing from one volunteer activity to another? Don’t get me wrong, some of those things can be very fulfilling and good. But it’s so easy to get caught up in life and responsibilities that you truly forget to live.

How to Make a Bucket List:

Now that you know you need to make one, how do you go about it? Remember the self reflection? Take time and reflect on everything you want to accomplish and experience in life. Start writing down whatever comes to your mind. Remember, they don’t all have to be amazing once in a lifetime experiences. Nothing is too big or too small!

What do you want to learn? Piano? A new language? Do you want to go back to school? Get a degree? Bachelor’s? Master’s? Take a photography class?

Where do you want to visit? New cities? New countries? Zoos? Disney World? National Parks? New restaurants? Museums?

What’s meaningful to you? Giving blood? Plasma? Volunteering? Going on a mission trip? Marching for a cause?

What do you want to do? Sky dive? Snorkel? Scuba dive? Ski? Hike? See a musical? Opera? Go on a cruise? Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

What should not go on a bucket list? Organizing the garage, painting the media room, deep cleaning your home, getting your toenails painted….unless you’ve never had a professional pedicure. Anything that does not make you want to jump out of bed in the morning should be left off.

Here’s a link to my Ultimate Bucket List and then my 40 Before 40. Search on Pinterest for even more ideas.

Make a Bucket List That’s Adaptable

Whatever you write down now, may not be what you desire in 10 years. They can be easily changed. I started my list in my 20’s and have crossed at least 50 things off of it. But guess what? I’ve added 100 more. And that’s okay! The only way you can screw up a bucket list is by having the exact same one in 10 years!

Also if you don’t like the term Bucket List, call it what ever you want! It’s your list. Life’s Adventures, The Ultimate To Do List, Lifetime Goals, anything.

Make a Bucket List Summary

Making a bucket list is time for you to dream big and think about what you really want out of life. It’s a list to remind you to live everyday to the fullest, because the only moment we are guaranteed is now.

I’d love to follow along on your bucket list journey!

On Instagram use #Alwaysupforanadventurebucketlist

Do you have a bucket list?