Creating Your Bucket List

One of the best parts of retirement is having more time doing the things you really want to do. There are things you want to do, places you want to see, and goals you want to achieve.  In retirement, all these hopes and dreams can end up on your bucket list.

What is a Bucket List?

A “bucket list” refers to the goals you hope to achieve before you “kick the bucket.” Every person’s bucket list is different. Some people want to travel the world, others want to learn a new skill or perfect a hobby, and some want to see a game at every major league ballpark 

Whatever you decide to add to your bucket list, make sure it reflects the things that you really want to do. 

Why Should You Make a Retirement Bucket List?

There are a lot of good reasons to make a bucket list.

• Many retired people worry that, without the structure of work, life is going to pass them by. A bucket list (and a plan to achieve it) gives you something to work towards, so you won’t be bored or run out of things to do.
• A bucket list is a positive way of looking at the future. Having a positive outlook is great for your mood, your mental health, and even your physical wellbeing.
• Finally, crossing items off your bucket list is a great way to enjoy life! You’ve worked hard all these years and now it’s time to retire the way you’ve always dreamt of retiring. 

What to Watch Out For

Putting together a bucket list can be a fun activity, but there’s a certain amount of stress involved in the process as well. If you’re not careful, listing your goals and coming up with plans to achieve them can cause a lot of anxiety or worry. If at any point you start to feel stressed out, take a step back and remind yourself that this is meant to be an enjoyable experience. 

You also need to avoid being unrealistic. Yes, it’s certainly fun to dream and there’s no shame is spending some time thinking about your wildest fantasies, but your retirement bucket list will best serve its purpose when it’s realistic. You probably don’t have unlimited money, no one can jump from goal-to-goal-to-goal without a break, and you may have some physical limitations to keep in mind. Don’t forget this.

Make your list reasonable and realistic or you might end up ignoring it, or worse, end up feeling like a failure. 

How to Make Your Retirement Bucket List a Reality

Your bucket list is all about you and what you’d like to do, but there are some tips that can help you put your list together.  Make your goals SMART. SMART goals are ones that are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. What does this mean?

• Specific means you should list exactly what you want to do in details. Instead of “travel to Europe”, write “visit France and see the Eiffel Tower.”
• Measurable goals give you a way to track your progress. Instead of “I want to read more”, say “I want to read one book each month.”
• Attainable goals are realistic ones. Don’t let your bucket list get out of control.
• Relevant means that the goals mean something. Choose goals that matter to you, not ones that look good to others.
• Time-bound goals hold you to a specific timeframe. This will motivate you to get things done. Instead of saying “Go skydiving”, say “I want to go skydiving next year before my birthday.”.

Break Up Goals

Break large goals into smaller sections Larger goals can seem overwhelming. Break these goals into smaller steps. It can feel daunting to say you want to write a book. It becomes more manageable if you say you want to write your first chapter by the end of the year, for example.

Think about who you’d like to spend time with.  Yes, your list is all about you, but that doesn’t mean you have to accomplish it on your own. When you’re putting everything together, think about who you’d love to have by your side as you check off your steps. Maybe it’s your spouse or, maybe it’s your children, maybe it’s a lifelong friend. Don’t forget to add them to your list and plan for the logistics of accomplishing certain goals with them.

Ask For Help

If you’re having trouble thinking of ideas, talk to your loved ones. They might be able to jog your memory by reminding you of things you’ve always wanted to do, or maybe they’ll be able to give you some suggestions. 

You can even look in books and online for ideas. However, never think that you have to add certain things to your list just because others do. Remember, this is about you!

Once you have your list, it’s time to put it all together and start checking items off! If your goals are specific, realistic, and have timeframes attached to them, turning your list into an actionable plan should be quite straightforward! Enjoy yourself!