All right, it’s time for some fun! I guess everyone knows what a bucket list is, but how many people have one? You may have something in your head, but now is the time to write down the experiences and achievements that you want to accomplish in your life.

But before we start, let’s look at the reasons why you should create a bucket list.

  1. Your memory sucks. A friend tells you about his amazing trip to Patagonia and you immediately know that you want to go there some day. Unfortunately, you probably forget about it two weeks later if you don’t write it down.
  2. If you don’t plan for it, it won’t happen. Having a bucket list to look at regularly will help you to make plans and do what you have set out to do. That’s why I for example promise myself to tick off at least two items every year.
  3. Writing increases commitment. Writing down your goals increases the likelihood of achieving them. Not in some sort of magical way, but simply because you’re more committed and more likely to spot opportunities.
  4. Having a bucket list is awesome. This is the most important reason. It’s fun to search and think about all the things that you can do. Planning and anticipation are part of the journey.

All you need to start with your bucket list is a pencil and a blank piece of paper. The first step is to take 15 to 30 minutes to write down all your bucket list items that come to mind. Maybe, if you have thought about this before, this is easy and you already have a long list. But chances are that you need some more inspiration.

You can find hundreds of bucket lists online that you can go through to ‘steal’ ideas, but it’s recommended to first think for yourself. You want to make sure that it’s your bucket list, so be critical before you add something new. Ask yourself: Do I really want to do this or does it just sound good?

What can help you to get new ideas is to break up your list in categories. For my own list, I’m using (1) Travel, (2) Events, (3) Physical Challenges, (4) Personal Projects & Development, and (5) Other. I’ll share some examples of my bucket list items per category below this post, but again: Try to come up with your own list first!

It’s perfectly fine if you don’t get to 50 items straight away. Your bucket list is never finished, so you should always keep thinking about new exciting items you would like to add. And don’t hesitate to delete something if you don’t really feel like it anymore.  

Your bucket list is personal, but that doesn’t mean that it’s just about you. You can plan your next experience with your partner, family, or friends. Nothing is better than sharing great experiences with people you love. And last, but not least: Remember that your bucket list is not a score card. The goal is not to check off all your items, but to enjoy the journey.

Now have fun creating your bucket list. And be sure to look at it regularly to plan for new adventures!

Examples from my own bucket list

Travel

  • Make a trip through the Amazon
  • Visit the Galapagos Islands
  • Visit Salar de Uyuni
  • Go for a road trip in New Zealand
  • Hike through the Rocky Mountains
  • Visit the Grand Canyon
  • Visit Las Vegas
  • Go on a safari in Africa
  • Ride an elephant
  • Visit the pyramids of Egypt
  • Walk the Great Wall of China
  • Visit Patagonia
  • Cycle on the Alpe d’Hues
  • Walk through the rice fields
  • Go for a whisky tour in Scotland
  • Spot wild orangutans in Indonesia
  • Swim in the Dead Sea
  • Swim in the Blue Lagoon of Iceland
  • Visit the Colosseum in Rome
  • Cycle through the vineyard for wine tastings
  • Go for a snow safari in Lapland
  • See the Northern Lights
  • Go for a honeymoon trip to Bora Bora
  • Visit Bagan
  • Visit Medellin
  • Visit New York City
  • Visit Tokyo
  • Visit Cape town

Events

  • Visit the FIFA World Cup
  • Visit the EUFA European Championship
  • Visit the Summer Olympics
  • Visit an NFL and a College Football game
  • Visit ‘El Clásico’ (FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid)
  • Visit the ‘Superclásico’ (Boca Juniors vs River Plate)
  • Celebrate carnival in Barranquilla
  • Walk in the Rio de Janeiro carnival parade
  • Go to Oktoberfest in Munich
  • Visit Tomorrowland
  • Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland
  • Visit the horse races in Hong Kong

Physical Challenges

  • Camp in the wilderness for at least three days
  • Get my diving certificate
  • Run a marathon within 4 hours
  • Run another marathon at age 50
  • Win an amateur boxing match
  • Climb a mountain of at least 5,000m (16,400ft)

Personal Projects & Development

  • Start a company
  • Write and record a song
  • Write a book
  • Write a collection of poems
  • Write a film script
  • Learn Spanish
  • Finish three Executive Courses
  • Give a presentation to over 1,000 people

Other

  • Do a skydive
  • Go for a hot air balloon ride
  • Do a bungee jump
  • Swim with sharks, turtles, and dolphins
  • Train a youth football (soccer) team