How to Create an X-by/Bucket List

Posting Date Note: As many of us are social distancing and sheltering in place as part of the community effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19, we're sitting in our homes realizing how precious our time is when we have limitations on how we can use it. I think this makes it a perfect time for us to come up with our X-by or Bucket List because we are not encumbered with all that we have to do, but free to plan all the things we want to do.

 8 Tips for Developing Your Own Bucket List

A total life bucket list is relatively easy to create. You simply start recording all the things you might ever want to do or try and go from there. By the grace of the universe, you will have a long lifetime to accomplish them.

In a 50 Before 50, 40 By 40, or whatever X-by list you create, the limitations in place help focus your efforts so you can achieve your goal. Ironically, that creates limitations on the list you can create.

I had a difficult time creating my original 50 Before 50 list. So, I ended up creating these guidelines to get me to the list I was happy with:

1. Brainstorm it out
2. Use categories to organize your thoughts
3. Walk down memory lane
4. Research
5. Don’t compare!
6. Create stretch goals
7. Be realistic with timing and budget
8. Feel free to change your list at any time

1. Brainstorm it out

In the same manner that you would think about your lifetime bucket list, just go ahead write down anything and everything you might want to do. It can be small or it can be large. The important point is just to get out all the ideas you can think of. 

2. Use categories to organize your thoughts

I was having a hard time wrapping my brain around my list. I couldn’t figure out a way to mentally sort through the ideas to decide what I really wanted to do. I couldn’t whittle it down to my target number. And I couldn’t tell if my list was even doable in the time I had. So, I created some categories to help me organize it and my thoughts. 

• Do something new
• Do something active
• Learn something
• Photograph something
• Create something
• Travel somewhere close-ish
• Travel somewhere further

These categories not only helped me sort through my existing list, they also helped me think of other things to include when I got stuck thinking of enough ideas.

3. Walk down memory lane

A new friend recently shared with me a list of her own. It listed all the things she had already done. It was great to see her list as it was inspirational and a great conversation starter. More importantly, it helped me realize that I have already done a number of memorable things that I’m grateful for the experience; as well as remind me that this current list does not limit my future nor define my past. 

5. Don’t compare!

I say this because I fell into this trap myself. I found lists where people included (and accomplished) things like traveling to 20 countries, winning a body building competition, getting published, rappelling down a 200 foot cliff, etc. I read these and started to feel like my list was so super lame.

It also reminded me of a friend’s list which had all these extreme things on it like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, skydiving over a volcano, diving with saltwater crocodiles, and meditating with Tibetan monks for a year. It was undoubtedly an impressive list and made me think if I should add major cool factor items to mine. 

The good thing was that it made me come to terms with my personal personal for doing this project, which was to get myself to do things that I’ve always wanted to do…both small and large. For others, these kinds of lists will be to challenge them to their limits. Then there are those who will do this project because they want to accomplish things that most others haven’t so they have unique stories to tell. And there will be all the ones in between. 

I think if you’re clear and honest with yourself about your reasons, you’ll be happy with your list because it’s what’s right for you. 

6. Create stretch goals

7. Be realistic with timing and budget

Again, your list can include whatever you want. However, I would suggest that your final list is one that fits in with the life you have or willing to have during the time period you’ve set.

For example, an ideal list of mine would be filled top to bottom with travel to different countries. However, my true-to-me preferences and reality don’t allow for that.

In short, I like direct flights, charming hotels, eating well, shopping, and taking some time to explore the countries I visit. I also prefer to have the money to afford these things without burying myself in debt. For me, this means I want to work the job I have and use the vacation time I have to travel. So even in a full decade, traveling to 50 international countries would mean I’d need to travel 5x each year to hit that goal. That just doesn’t calculate out for me.

There’s no saying this can’t be done by anyone who wants it. I’m just saying to consider what is your reality and/or what you’re realistically willing to do to achieve the goals you come up with.

8. Feel free to change your list at any time

One of my friends didn’t really understand this project. She said she was the kind of person who has a lot of interests and they are constantly growing, changing, and evolving. She felt that this kind of list was too limiting for her. She’s also the kind of person who will jump in and get involved with the things she’s interested in without procrastinating and she’s really good about getting things done efficiently. I admire her for these characteristics and agree this kind of project isn’t for everyone.