What does bucket list mean?
A bucket list is a list of things you want to do, see or experience during your life. Think of places you want to travel to, skills you want to learn, adventures you want to try and personal goals you want to achieve.
It's not a to-do list for this week. A bucket list is about the bigger picture: the experiences that would make you look back and think "I'm glad I did that." Some items are huge, like travelling around the world. Others are small, like watching a sunrise from a mountain top or learning to bake bread.
Where does the term come from?
The term comes from the English idiom "to kick the bucket", an informal way of saying "to die". A bucket list is literally the list of things you want to do before that happens.
The phrase became popular worldwide through the 2007 film The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. In the film, two men who meet in hospital decide to spend the time they have left doing everything on their list. Since then, "bucket list" has become an everyday expression for life goals of all kinds.
Why make a bucket list?
Writing your dreams down turns vague "someday" ideas into goals you can plan for. A bucket list helps you:
Know what you want
Putting it on paper forces you to think about what really matters to you.
Stop postponing
A written goal is much easier to plan, save for and schedule than a loose idea.
Share dreams with others
Comparing lists with your partner, friends or family shows what you can do together.
Collect memories
Every ticked-off item becomes a story you'll remember for the rest of your life.
How to make a bucket list in 6 steps
-
1
Brainstorm without limits
Write down everything that comes to mind, without judging. Ask yourself: what would I do if time and money didn't matter? What did I dream about as a kid?
-
2
Organise into categories
Group your ideas into themes like travel, adventure, learning, relationships and personal growth. You'll quickly see where your passions lie.
-
3
Make every goal specific
"Travel more" is hard to achieve. "See the northern lights in Lapland" is a goal you can actually plan and tick off.
-
4
Mix big and small
Combine once-in-a-lifetime dreams with goals you can do this month. Small wins keep you motivated for the big ones.
-
5
Add a timeframe
Give some goals a target date, like "this summer" or "before I turn 40". A deadline turns a wish into a plan.
-
6
Keep it somewhere you'll see it
A list you never look at is quickly forgotten. Keep it on your phone, review it regularly and add new dreams as you go.
Tips to actually tick things off
-
Pick one goal to start this month
Choose one item and take the first small step right away: book the ticket, sign up for the course, ask a friend to join.
-
Break big goals into tasks
"Run a marathon" becomes: buy running shoes, follow a training plan, run a 10K, sign up for the race.
-
Do it together
Shared goals are more fun and you're less likely to give up. Make a list with your partner, friends or family.
-
Budget for your dreams
Set aside a small amount every month for your bucket list. Many big experiences are more affordable than they seem when you plan ahead.
-
Capture the moment
When you complete a goal, write down how it felt and add a few photos. Looking back on your memories is half the fun.
-
Let your list change
You'll grow, and so will your dreams. Remove goals that no longer excite you and add new ones without guilt.
Bucket list ideas
Need some inspiration? Here are ideas to kick-start your own list.
Travel
- See the northern lights
- Visit all seven continents
- Take a road trip without a plan
- Sleep under the stars in a desert
- Travel solo to a new country
- Ride a long-distance train journey
- Visit the Seven Wonders of the World
Adventure
- Go skydiving
- Climb a mountain
- Learn to scuba dive
- Take a hot air balloon ride
- Swim with turtles
- Go on a safari
- Walk a multi-day hiking trail
Learn something new
- Learn a new language
- Play a song on an instrument
- Take a cooking class abroad
- Learn to surf
- Get your driving or sailing licence
- Read 50 books in a year
- Take a photography course
Together
- Plan a surprise trip for someone
- Host a dinner for all your friends
- Go on a trip with your parents
- Renew your vows somewhere special
- Start a yearly tradition
- Reconnect with an old friend
Personal growth
- Run a marathon
- Volunteer for a cause you care about
- Write a book or start a blog
- Go a month without social media
- Speak in front of an audience
- Plant a tree
- Learn to meditate
Just for fun
- Go to a music festival abroad
- Watch a sunrise and a sunset in one day
- Eat at a restaurant with a view
- Dance in the rain
- See your favourite artist live
- Spend a night in a treehouse
- Ride the world's tallest rollercoaster
Frequently asked questions
How many items should be on a bucket list?
There is no fixed number. Many people start with 10 to 20 items and keep adding over time. What matters most is that every item genuinely excites you.
Is a bucket list only for travel?
Not at all. Travel is popular, but a bucket list can include anything: skills, adventures, personal milestones, things to do with loved ones or small everyday joys.
Can you make a bucket list together?
Yes. Many couples, friends and families keep a shared bucket list with goals they want to achieve together, next to their personal lists.
What's the difference between a bucket list and goals?
Goals are often practical and tied to work or health. A bucket list focuses on experiences and dreams — things you want to do because they make life richer, not because you have to.
Where should I keep my bucket list?
Somewhere you'll see it often. A notebook works, but an app like iBucket lets you organise goals in lists, plan trips, share lists with others and keep photos and memories of everything you've done.
Start your bucket list today
Set goals, plan trips and mark the places you've visited — on your own or together with your partner, friends and family.
Photos on Unsplash by Simon English, lucas wesney, Kylo, Annie Spratt, Mesut Kaya, Vincent Guth, ian dooley, Sincerely Media, Considerate Agency, Fitsum Admasu, Hanny Naibaho.