When was the last time you did something for the first time or what’s that one thing you wish to do before you die? These questions are not new; still, many of us don’t have their answers. What’s even more surprising is that we don’t even bother to reflect on the importance of these questions. It struck me hard when my friend, Namrata, narrated her last interaction with her grandfather. He was on his last stage of cancer when he told Namrata, how much he missed his friends and wanted to catch up with them in person. His work kept him so busy that he never attended a single reunion, and now his heart was filled with remorse. While the anecdotes might differ, the situation is similar for many people. We tend to neglect things that make us happy and think when we wish to fulfil them, it’s usually late. That’s why making a bucket list becomes important. Unlike other to-do lists, bucket lists focus on desires and not needs. It is a compilation of our interests, hobbies, and passions about. What makes them so valuable is their countless benefits, as stated below, and thus we emphasize why you should create your bucket list.
1. You Only Live Once
An old quote says the first best time to plant a tree was 20 years back; the second-best time is now. Similarly, it’s okay if you are new to this concept or that you knew it but never made one. What matters is that you don’t procrastinate it further and create one now. Bucket lists act as a reminder that you shouldn’t take life for granted, nor should you live life with regrets. Instead, take charge and define it in the way you want it.
2. Self Discovery
When you create your bucket list, you contemplate your likes, dislikes, preferences, etc., and reveals who you are as a person. A bucket list helps to journal your wants and desires and gives clarity on what you wish to attain. It serves as a reflection of your real self, on what interests you and the type of personality you own. There are high chances that you would be surprised how little you knew about yourself.
Recommended reading: How To Make Your Bucket List
3. Prioritise Experiences and Memories
There is no denying that memory and experiences have a crucial role in shaping and defining who we are. A bucket list, or you may say ‘priority list,’ helps narrow down your priorities and makes you aware of what you desire. Anything and everything you do leaves an experience, so make sure you choose them wisely.
4. Better Mental Well-being
A bucket list allows people to take breaks from the monotonous schedule. A recent study concludes that people who are more involved in leisure activities tend to show lower stress levels and experience lesser burnouts. This is why creating your bucket list serves no less than a roadmap of your overall well-being.
5. Personal Growth
You grow and learn with every new thing. If your bucket lists largely consist of traveling, you will get better at communication skills, if you are into adventures sport, you will enjoy taking risks, and similarly for other things. Whatever you do, your overall personality will get enhanced, right from your confidence level to creativity. All the research, planning, experience that you gain in the journey makes you more well-informed about life.
Recommended reading: 5 Powerful Ways Journaling Changes Your Life
6. It Makes You Push Your Boundaries
Gone are the days when the answer to ‘what’s in your bucket list’ was confined to the places one wished to travel. Today, it ranges from a language or skill you wish to learn, professional growth, any experience you wish to have, etc. The moments of joy that those accomplishments provide fuel to push your limits further and motivate you.
Bucket lists make one’s life meaningful and interesting in ways one can’t even imagine. Some use it as a tool for soul searching, while some try new things. And you won’t know how exactly it helped you until you make one. So, go ahead and create your bucket list now.
