The first year I created a bucket list was actually the summer of the pandemic.

Quarantining was in full effect, and people were afraid to make eye contact on the street. My younger sister had just moved into my studio apartment after her college evacuated all students. After a few weeks of being bored (and scared) as hell, we decided to create a bucket list for that summer that we were together.

It gave us something to do, and it was a social contract between the two of us to make the most of quite an unexpected year.

I forgot about it until I came across Joonas Mengel's *ucketlist program, whose videos were so compelling that I decided to do it again for 2024.

Why should you bother?

For one, it's an exercise in imagination and making your intentions explicit. Can you actually list out 50 things you want to do, have or be? Have you tried? It's an incredible mental exercise to get to know yourself.

Secondly, sometimes, if we're not careful, life can feel a little draining. Maybe we're chasing the wrong things. Maybe we're not making space for rest and fun. Maybe we're prioritizing things that don't fill our cup. There's a whole science behind the effectiveness of lists, and this one can help you create experiences, find meaning, and make memories.

Here's what to do:

Draft out 50 things you want to do by the end of 2024. Time box to 30 minutes. Come back to it as you think of things. If you need help, think about what a 90 year-old you would tell yourself to do this year. I also like to ask myself: what are things I want to be, have or do?
Refine the draft. Time box to 30 minutes. Come back to it as you think of things but try to complete it within 3 days max. Try not to self-impose limitations. Don't worry about how you'll get it done. You'll figure it out as you go.
Write it all out and put it on your wall where you'll see it. This is actually the most critical step. It has to be easily accessible and visible. I like to make mine colorful and aesthetically pleasing. I make it joyful to look at.
Tag people to help you accomplish the ones you think will be a challenge. There are no rules! Make accountability buddies.

There's no such thing as losing when you put yourself out there.

Adjust the parameters if something doesn't work for you. It's okay if it's not perfect or if you don't cross it all off. If it helped you create one experience that you wouldn't have otherwise had, it's meaningful.