How to Create a Bucket List That Actually Feels Like You

06.01.26

By: Shariah James

A bucket list isn't just a list of things you hope to do "someday." At its best, it's a way to turn your curiosity, values, and goals into experiences you can actually make room for in your life. For me, creating a seasonal bucket list is less about checking off every single item and more about asking myself:

What do I want this season of my life to feel like?

I want my list to include things that are fun, things that challenge me, and things that help me grow—but without turning every free moment into another task to complete.

So, here's the simple framework I’m using this summer to build a bucket list that feels exciting instead of overwhelming.

WHY A BUCKET LIST SHOULD BE MORE THAN WISHES

When most people hear "bucket list," they think of big things: traveling somewhere new, learning a new skill, going on an adventure, or finally trying something they've always talked about. And those things absolutely belong on a bucket list.

But I also think a good bucket list can include smaller things that make everyday life feel more intentional.

Maybe it's finally reading the book that's been sitting on your nightstand. Maybe it's trying a new hobby, finding a new coffee shop, going horseback riding, watching a movie you've never seen, or spending an afternoon doing absolutely nothing.

The point isn't to create an impressive list. It's to create your list. A bucket list should reflect the things you're curious about, the experiences you want to have, and the person you're becoming.

HOW I BUILD MY BUCKET LIST

I like to divide my list into three simple categories:

1. Experiences

These are the things I want to do and experience.

Travel. Hobbies. Adventures. New places. Things I've always wanted to try.

For example, learning how to play golf is on my list. So is horseback riding.

And sometimes an experience doesn't have to be a huge event. Watching a TV show I've been meaning to watch or finally reading a book I've had on my list counts, too.

The goal is to create memories—not just accomplishments.

2. Level Up

This category is for the things that help me grow.

That could mean learning a new skill, taking a class, reading something outside of my usual interests, or challenging myself to do something I've been putting off.

I like having this category because growth doesn't always have to feel serious. Learning something new can simply be fun.

Right now, I'm especially interested in expanding my interests and trying things that are outside of my normal routine. Sometimes you don't know whether you'll love something until you give yourself permission to be a beginner.

3. Read, Post, Build

This is my catch-all category for the things I want to create, consume, and document.

I've really been enjoying seasonal reading lists lately. Instead of randomly picking up whatever book catches my attention, I like creating a little TBR for the season.

I've also started thinking about reading as more of an experience. I might pair a book with a puzzle, a movie, a playlist, or even an activity inspired by what I'm reading.

And then there is documenting.

I want to create more—not because everything needs to become content, but because I enjoy looking back at different seasons of my life and seeing how much has changed. Sometimes taking the picture, writing the post, or documenting the experience is part of the experience itself.

ADD SOMETHING THAT GROUNDS YOU

For me, that grounding element is Scripture.

I like having a few verses that set the tone for whatever season I'm entering. They remind me that my life isn't just about productivity, accomplishments, or checking things off a list.

It's about purpose, patience, faith, and becoming.

Three verses I've been carrying with me are:

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”
— Ecclesiastes 7:8

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.”
— Philippians 1:6

“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:11

Your grounding element might be Scripture, too. Or maybe it's a journal prompt, a word for the season, an affirmation, or a personal value you want to keep coming back to. The important thing is that your bucket list isn't just telling you what to do. It reminds you why you're doing it.

MY BUCKET LIST PHILOSOPHY: PROGRESS COUNTS

When I first started making bucket lists, I would write down everything I wanted to do—even things that were probably unrealistic. And honestly? I still do that. But I've stopped treating the list like a contract.

If "learn how to play golf" is on my list and I don't make it to a golf course this season, that doesn't mean I failed. Maybe I watched a beginner's video. Maybe I learned the terminology. Maybe I read about the sport. Maybe I found someone who can teach me. I still moved closer to the experience.

That's one of my favorite things about a bucket list: you don't always have to finish the experience to begin becoming familiar with it.

Sometimes exposure is the first step. And sometimes something doesn't happen in the season you originally planned.

That's okay, too. A bucket list isn't a deadline. It's a collection of possibilities.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Your bucket list doesn't have to contain 100 things.

It doesn't have to be filled with expensive trips, major accomplishments, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

It can be a simple list of things that make you think: "I would love to do that." Start there.

Add the things you've been curious about. Add the things you've always wanted to try. Add a few things that challenge you. Add a few things that are completely frivolous.

And remember, the best bucket list isn't the one you finish the fastest. It's the one that makes you excited to live the life you're already in.

 XO,

The Kléi