How to Create a Bucket List
Step #1. START NOW ... TODAY! As they say, "don't put off until tomorrow, the things you can do today!" NO EXCUSES! (Trust me ... the dishes in the sink and the laundry in the hamper really will wait until tomorrow -- or next week -- and you can maybe talk your husband into bringing home a pizza for supper .. or better yet order something unique on your bucket list ... do they deliver sushi?) :)
Step #2. Take time to think and reflect (maybe while drinking that cup of tea on the porch or while taking that walk along the beach) about the types of things that you want to do -- the things that you enjoy and the things that make you happy. Remember -- you do not have to include any of the outlandish, stereotypical bucket list items if you don't want to -- (in other words, you are not required to jump out of an airplane or climb the highest mountain!) Make the list your own!
Step #3. Brainstorm! Make an exhaustive list of all the small, medium and large things you can think of ... Things you have always wanted to do .... Things you wonder what it would be like to try "just once" .... Things it would just be fun to say you have done ... Things you envy seeing other people do ... Things you often say "I will do that someday ... maybe when I retire"... and on and on .... And don't forget to add the items you have already accomplished! Checking the items off will give you an amazing sense of accomplishment or at least a place to start!
Step #4. Categorize the list. Sort your items by such things as "Family/Relationships", "Health/Well Being", "Travel", "Personal Achievement" "Just for Me", "Spiritual", "Education", "Career" ... even "Miscellaneous"... etc.... you decide on the categories!
Step #5. Look at the large list and make a list of action plans or things you can do this year ... things you can do this month ... this week, even TODAY! Think of action plans that can span across categories ... in other words, if you want to spend quality time with your family and you want to see the ocean .... add "take a family cruise" to your list of tasks for this year. If you want to exercise for your health and you want to spend more time with a friend .... make it a task to go for a walk with that friend. Break larger items into smaller tasks. If you dream of writing a book someday, make it a task to write a journal for your kids or write a poem or two; take a writing class or a publishing class. That way, you may not have accomplished the big bucket list item of writing a book, but you will be ready to achieve your goal when the "right time" arrives.
Step #6. Now go ahead and do the tasks on your list today ... then continue on until you have tackled a few more items for the week, the month, the year and so on ... continue to add more items to your bucket list as you cross tasks off ... and of course, if you find an opportunity to do that you hadn't thought of ... go ahead and DO it ... and then write it down and check it off! You will be amazed what you can accomplish -- so get started DOING the items on your bucket list TODAY!
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