Benefits of bucket listing
You know, I love finding out from others about what's led them to start creating bucket lists. Has that sense of adventure been there since they were tiny? Did they have a moment that made them think how they wanted to do things that were beyond the routine of everyday life? Whatever the reason, I think there're several benefits for embracing bucket listing and I wonder if you can relate to any of these. Perhaps you can keep think of others...
Bucket listing... can bring positivity
It doesn't have to be a life-changing, expensive experience to get that 'YES' feeling but the sense of accomplishment and even a tiny bit of adrenalin that puts a smile on your face.
Bucket listing...can help you to look forward and break up the daily routine
Busy with work? Busy looking after someone? Feeling stuck where most weeks are similar? Carving out time for ourselves can be hard sometimes but having something in the diary to look forward to can help immensely.
Bucket listing...can help lift mood.
It may be that you experience low mood / depression and that you can't see your way out of your situation. Doing bucket list experiences won't necessarily solve life's problems but many can provide a distraction at least for a short while. Even the researching can give you a break from your mind and take your thoughts elsewhere. Years ago, I had a psychiatric hospital approach me as someone had read my '40 things to do before I turn 40' blog and they'd decided to add a session to their weekly timetable which, alongside medication and therapy, would encourage patients to identify small goals and help their recovery journey.
Bucket listing...is a great conversation starter!
I've very few opportunities where it'd be appropriate for bucket listing to come up but family and friends always know that I've been up to something recently and I'll have at least one thing planned in the not too far future. Appearing on local radio in early 2024 to talk about bucket listing was really great fun as the presenter was even starting to think of what she wanted to do.
Bucket listing...can give you a buzz when you watch something on TV and you've been there!
I had this when watching a programme about train travel in Malaysia and the presenter was standing in the same spot that I'd stood in 2023 and it was such as "I've been there too" moment! Just the other day, I was watching the latest Wonka film and spotted Leadenhall Market in London that'd been used for one of the scenes (was used for Harry Potter too).
Bucket listing...can open your eyes to the world around you
I'm often looking out for opportunities from watching TV, etc. My experiences, especially over the past 2 years, have really opened up the world to me but also to many interactions with people, both far away from home and much nearer to home. Different cultures and traditions, even in various parts of our own country, can enrich our minds and lives.
Bucket listing...can remind you of your personal qualities, boost confidence
It doesn't have to be about showcasing to others but just that sense to yourself when you realise how brave you were, how you could push the comfort zone, how you had the organisational skills to plan something. I never thought I'd be able to go away on a holiday alone. I never thought I'd have the resilience to complete 100 days of learning a new language for free. Even if we might feel vulnerable sometimes, we can come to realise that perhaps we're stronger than we realise.
A quote from Brazilian poet Mario Raul de Morais Andrade which really resonates when reflecting on what drives me is...
"......We have two lives. And the second begins when you realize that you have only one"