How to Create a Midlife Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? Have you thought about one? It’s a popular concept, making a list of things you want to do in life. But how many of us actually create and fulfill our bucket lists? Now that I’m 45 and considered “midlife,” I’ve become seriously motivated to get out and experience life in a bigger way, and it’s led me to create a midlife bucket list of my own.

Curious about a midlife bucket list? Want to start living bigger? Well, let’s go, sister! Let’s create your midlife bucket list now.

Start Listing Your Ideas

It sounds simple, but when I started brainstorming my bucket list ideas, I actually got stuck a little. Kind of like writer’s block, but it was Bucket List block.

I think it’s because I was censoring myself. What if my ideas sounded stupid or unrealistic? Or what if some of them seemed small? I found myself censoring my ideas and thoughts. Then I realized just how silly that was.

Here’s the thing. It’s YOUR list. You can put whatever you want on it. It can be as serious or as frivolous as you want it to be. You’re the one that will be doing the things. So it doesn’t matter if the items are out of this world crazy, like sky-diving or bungee-jumping. (My idea of insanity.)

Or it can be as simple as starting a garden in your backyard. (One of my items.) Because you see, even though that sounds lame to some people, to me it’s a way to reconnect with my childhood, when my parents had an amazing garden that we ate from all summer long. So disregard that inner voice. It’s your list and no one else’s. Anything goes!

Journal Your Bucket List Ideas

To get the creative juices going, start by actually journaling about things you want to do or try. Nothing fancy, no page requirements. Just start writing.

Brainstorm about things you’ve always wanted to do or things you miss doing. Write about your childhood and things that used to bring you joy. List movies or books that inspired you to see if they jog your mind about anything you might want to try.

I started by listing things that brought me joy, which led to ideas about things I want to do again or things I’ve always been curious about.

You can make bucket list categories such as People to Meet, Places to Visit, Things to Learn, Things to Do, etc.. If you need a little more inspiration, check out Pinterest or even just do a quick Google search on Bucket Lists. For added inspo, you could always watch “The Bucket List” with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.

Just write your uncensored thoughts and ideas about all of the things you could ever want to accomplish in your lifetime and don’t hold back.

Make an Actual Bucket List

Once you have brainstormed, it’s time to make a plan. That’s right, you’re going to actually make a Midlife Bucket List and put it where you can see it. Because as they say, out of sight, out of mind. And you don’t want that to happen. You want to start living bigger and experiencing these things!

Take a look at all of the ideas you came up with and identify a reasonable number of items that you think you could accomplish. (There is no right or wrong number of items, either. This is just a number that feels right for you.)

List them out. You may want to rank them in order of importance. Or you might want to assign deadlines or time frames. The budget may impact some of the timing. For example, that trip to Bora Bora is going to be costly, so you’ll need time to plan and save. Or if you’re planning to run your first 5k, you’ll need time to train.

Now Go Do Your Bucket List

Yes. Go do it. Get started. Don’t wait around for the perfect time or situation because there isn’t one. The best time to get started on your bucket list is NOW. Especially if, like me, you’re in your season of midlife.