So, have you created your bucket list?
If not, you really should consider it. A bucket list is a checklist of things you want to see, do, and experience before you die, and while the very idea seems a little morbid, you will be glad that you made the effort to create something.
Why? Well, here are just a few of the reasons why you should start putting pen to paper to make your own bucket list.
#1: You will have a life with fewer regrets
As difficult as this may be to think about, there will come a day when you are too old to do certain things in your life. You will be less inclined to travel, less able to push yourself beyond your comfort zones, and less likely to consider major changes in your life. It sucks, we know, but this is why it’s important to achieve as much as you can when you’re younger. By creating and living out your bucket list, you will have the opportunity to live your life to its fullest, and thus negate the possibility of you one day sitting in your rocking chair wondering what might have been if you had dared to do more with your life.
#2: You will get to see more of the world
There are all kinds of things you can add to your bucket list, but for many, travel is a key component. Thinking about the places in the world that you are keen to visit, you should note down as many as you can, and then start to make a concerted effort to save up your money to give you the opportunity for these travel opportunities. Whether it’s touring the United States of America, visiting some of Europe’s capital cities, or taking trips and tours to Africa (or anywhere in between), you will create a lifetime of memories with the adventurous journies you have undertaken.
#3: You will escape life’s routines
Let’s face it; life can be a bit of a routine at times. We wake up in the morning, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch TV, go to bed, and then live the same day ad infinitum. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with this – we can still be happy within these routines – but boredom can soon set in if we don’t make the effort to shake things up a little occasionally. A bucket list will enable you to do this, as you will have the motivation to make plans to break into your usual routines. Whether you take a year off to see the world or simply set yourself a target to spend one day a month fulfilling a bucket list dream, your life will become less routine and monotonous as a consequence.
#4: You will discover new things about yourself
Sure, a bucket list will give you the opportunity to discover new parts of the worlds, and to experience new facets of life, but it will also give you the opportunity to discover new things about yourself. You might have the chance to overcome your personal limits, for example, and you will then be able to discover how strong and talented you actually are. And if you do decide to travel, you might also learn new perspectives that will shape the way you think of yourself and of the world and the people around you. So, don’t be afraid to add something daring to your bucket list. If there is something you want to do, but never had the courage to do it previously, make a note of it, and then set out to achieve it during your lifetime. It could be life-changing.
#5: You will learn more
While you will undoubtedly learn more about yourself, you will also experience other learning opportunities. So, if you do decide to travel, you will learn more about other cultures, and even a new language if you can be bothered to learn the lingo. If you add any creative pursuits or sports to your bucket list, you will start to learn new skills when you undertake them. And if you have career goals on your bucket list, you will also increase your knowledge and skills base when you take the necessary courses to help you progress within your career.
#6: You will have stories to tell
A bucket list will make your stories infinitely more interesting. Be it the friends you meet at the bar, the people you share with on Facebook, or the grandchildren that might one day sit on your knee, you will have the opportunity to tell stories of the places you have been, the things that you have achieved, and the many wonderful things that you have seen. And because you will have learned life lessons through your bucket list, you should also have plenty of wisdom and advice to share with the people you are communicating with.
#7: You will become a healthier person
On a physical level, you will become infinitely more healthy if you take part in bucket list activities that take you out of your armchair. Whether you spend time engaged in new activities within your local area, or in adventures that are across the ocean, your physical health will benefit from the fresh air and exercise that you will be taking part in. Of course, your mental health will benefit too. Because you will be pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and because you will have more to look forward to in life beyond your usual routine, you will have the opportunity to escape any negative thoughts and mindsets that can be associated with depression. In all kinds of ways then, you will become a healthier you if you start to work on your bucket list.
Finally
So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t started work on a bucket list yet, then perhaps today is the day to do so. All kinds of benefits await you if you do, including those that are beyond what we have discussed in this article.