Have you ever felt like time is flying by and you aren’t accomplishing the things you wanted to accomplish in life? Do you look back at the end of the day and wonder where the time went and why you didn’t get anything done? What about the weekend, did you do anything worthwhile, or even check anything off your to-do list? What did you accomplish last week? Last month? Last year?

Bucket Lists Can Lead to Happiness

Studies have shown that the happiest people are the ones with a direction and purpose in life. When you are focused on something worthwhile you get the most satisfaction out of life.

So much of our time is taken up by the daily necessities required to exist that it leaves little time to actually live. You may spend 40 hours or more working each week and if you add in time spent commuting, time spent purchasing necessities for living, and time spent sleeping, you are left with little time for goal accomplishment. If you have children you have even less free time. How can you maximize your time while still attending to the necessities of life?

Why a Bucket List?

Think about it; if you were to die tomorrow would you be satisfied with the life you’ve lived? Have you seen everything you’ve wanted to see, met everyone you’ve wanted to meet, or tried things you’ve wanted to try? Are there skills you want to acquire but haven’t worked on obtaining them? What do you want to get out of life and who do you want to become?

Here’s what you need to do: write a bucket list! A bucket list is essentially a list of things you want to see, do or experience before you “kick the bucket.” This list is not just an idle collection of ridiculous ideas and unattainable dreams, it is a list made for action. The purpose of this list is to help you accomplish your life goals, give you a purpose and help you feel “alive”. You aren’t just going through the motions anymore, you are moving forward.

So where do you start?

First, set aside some time to brainstorm. Pull out a paper and write down all your hopes, dreams and desires. It is okay to put crazy things on the list or even simple things. Just remember that this isn’t just a daily to-do list, so you shouldn’t add things like “buy milk” to the list.

Make sure to include items from all aspects of your life, such as travel, relationships, career, financial goals, entertainment, adventure, education, etc. This list is about what you want to get out of life, but it is also important to remember to share the love and give back, so make sure to add some contributions you want to make. Think of things like, “what places do I want to visit?”, “what types of new foods do I want to try?”, “what live performances do I want to see?” (this could range from a Rolling Stones concert to seeing Les Miserables on Broadway, to seeing a mime on the street), “what educational achievements to I want to obtain?”, “what experiences do I want to have?”, “what do I want to get out of my love/family life?” , and “in what ways do I want to give back?”

Once you’ve written down your list, revise it. Go through each item and think about what you’ve written. The list can be as long or as short as you want it to be, but make sure you are only including items that are meaningful to you. You may put “bungee jumping” on the list because it seems like something most people would add, but if you aren’t really interested in that, don’t keep it on the list! Add any goals you may be missing and ask yourself your brainstorming questions again. Be honest with yourself. Finally, remove any items that are truly impossible, like “meet Elvis” or “compete at the Olympics” if you are not already preparing to become an Olympian.

You will evolve over the course of your lifetime and your bucket list should evolve, also. You may want to party at famous night clubs while you are younger, but that may not interest you once you are married and have a family. Scratch it off the list and put something more meaningful to you, like “take a cruise with the family”.

Now That You Wrote It, What Do You Do With It?

Finally, store your list someplace safe, yet accessible. You want to be able to refer back to it throughout your life to check off items and to get your bearings. When life is coming at you too fast and things start getting wonky, look at your list and see what things you’ve accomplished and still want to do. It is okay if you’ve strayed from your path a little, just refer to the list and get back on track. That being said, don’t be too hard on yourself if things aren’t going according to your original plan, or if you haven’t accomplished as much as you’ve wanted to accomplish. As long as you are working on your list and can check off some items, you are moving forward and growing, which is an accomplishment in itself. Remember, there are a great many people who have not even written a list, let alone accomplished anything on it.

Ultimately, your bucket list should simplify your life and give you a reason for why you are here, what you are doing with your time and what you are seeking to get out of your life. Your list will motivate you, decrease the background noise of your life and keep you on track. It should be meaningful, specific and tangible, and help you become the person that you want to be and are capable of becoming. As you cross items off your list, you will notice that you are growing, becoming more refined, and learning about yourself. You will find a sense of happiness and fulfillment knowing that you are in charge of your destiny and that it all started with one little list.