Living Your Best Life with a Bucket List

Life is short. While being productive is really important, we also have a limited amount of time on earth to live the best life we possibly could. It is also great for mental health. Shilagh Mirgain, Ph.D., a health psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health relied on her bucket list to keep track of her “inner wisdom” throughout her life. She even used her bucket list to help her summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, which had been on her list for 20 years. Here are 6 reasons why you should have a bucket list for your life. 

1. It makes it more real
Some ideas seem crazy until it is on a piece of paper or a list. Maybe today it seems crazy, but after 5 days of looking at the list, it won’t seem like such a crazy idea after all.

2. It gives you a sense of what is important
As what Shilagh Mirgain, Ph.D. stated, it gives you a sense of “inner compass”. It is supposed to help you determine what is important to you in your life. 

3. It adds excitement in your life
It is proven that it is a lot more exciting in planning something than actually doing. While you are planning something, it allows you to look forward to that particular moment in life when the event might actually happen. 

4. It gets you out of your comfort zone
Your bucket list of adventure should be exciting ideas of things to do that would not only get you off the couch but also get you out of your comfort zone. 

5. It gives you a sense of accomplishment
Finishing something on your to-do list will give you a sense of accomplishment. Being able to have trekked Patagonia or have scuba dived in Indonesia might give you a better sense of accomplishment and help with self-esteem.

6. A great conversation piece in a party 
It will help you become a cool person at a party with great stories to tell. It might really help with social networking and gaining business relationships. 

Bucket list might sound like a cheesy idea, but it definitely helps with finding your inner compass and fill your life with purpose. It will help build character and solidify your sense of being.