Have you ever heard someone say, “That’s going on my bucket list.” Usually these words are uttered after someone hears or thinks of some incredibly awesome experience they’d like to have.
But if we think about the words “bucket list” what comes to mind?
It makes me think of someone who has their best years behind them, and is trying to capture a little bit more life before their time on this planet is gone. They’re probably still having fun, but they can’t help but think they wish they had done all of these things while they were younger and able to enjoy them more.
It makes me think of someone who has no sense of urgency or accomplishment. They’re trying to achieve these things “before they die.”
It’s no secret that we are best motivated to accomplish things when we have a deadline. What kind of deadline is before we die?
That, and I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have some of the best experiences of my life when I’m not able to enjoy them and when I’m worried about how much money I have left to live on.
I’m one of those people who has a vision that there’s always a better way to do things, and there’s definitely a better way to do the bucket list.
So that’s why I recommend a different way to think about the bucket list.
- A way that allows you to enjoy the most awesome experiences of your life thoroughly
- A way that pushes you to excel while you’re young
- A way that will allow you to lead a lifetime of achievement
- And a way that won’t leave you wondering if you can complete everything you want to do while you’re still alive
Enter, the “Life List”
A life list is a bucket list, turned on its ugly head.
You strive to complete it before a certain point in your life, such as before the age of 30, 35, or 40 or maybe in the next three years – not before you die. You can set your own goal.
This completely changes your mindset about the accomplishments within. Instead of putting these amazing experience off until you’re old and decrepit, you go after them full throttle now.
You push yourself to the level of success that is required for you to make enough money to carry out these dreams.
And when you’re done, you do it all over again, and you do it even better than you did before. You continue to improve yourself and your life, and when you finally do come to the end of your rope, you’ve lived an amazing life full of amazing experiences. You have no regrets, and you have a lifetime of achievement to look back on.
You accomplished all of this because you didn’t wait until you were about to die to have the most amazing experiences of your life.
You made a life list, you went after it, and you lived the life of your dreams.
Go, Create Your Life List
If you already have a bucket list, take that “before you die” deadline and change it to the next three years, the next five years, or some feasible period of time that isn’t before you die.
If you don’t, sit down and create one. (Ed: We’re building Listible to help you create lists) Figure out all of those things you want to do before you die. Think big. Push yourself. Envision a life of success that will allow you to get there.
Now push yourself to figure out how you’re going to make it all happen.
And live the life of your dreams.
Your thoughts: Do you still think each of us should have a bucket list?
Featured photo credit: rope jumping via Shutterstock
Interesting point of view however I still see life list and bucket list being the same thing. I started a bucket list of all the things i wanted to do but then also what i have already achieved and crossed them off. Cheating? maybe, but not only did it give me some realization of what i have accomplished already but more importantly, it made me treat the “bucket” as my own life toolbox of all the life experiences i have had that made me the person I am today. Having a rolling list of what you hope to achieve only serves to make you always think about “when i do this” rather than “what i have done in the past” (pre-bucket list).
Conrad, you see it differently than most. Where most people will say I want to do these things “before I die” the big difference here the “Life List” is done before a certain point in time in the near future. It gives you something to shoot for in the very near term and drives you to be better to achieve those things.
Keep doing what you’re doing my friend!
One thing that concerns me about a bucket list is that it is so “out there” and “later”, especially if you are young. Young people think they are immortal. It’s easy to see that list as “nothing to be concerned with today”. Today, or better yet, now is all you’ve got.
Yep exactly. I always say think big, but make sure you’re not telling yourself “there is no way I’ll do this in the near future.” You’ve got to believe.
Great post, and I agree! I saw this blog where the guy listed his bucket list, and he added when he was going to do it and his action plan. I turned my lifeless bucket list into one where I mark it off and I make plans as to when I’m going to scratch the next one off as well.
Great post! Love it.
I’m using mobile application called iWish (bucket list) to have my goals/ achievements organized and always have them in my back pocket.