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Creating a Short Term Bucket List

 Alright settle in folks, this is a post I’ve been looking forward to. 


First of all, I’m ranking this as a “Tidbit” on my blog. I know everyone says you’re supposed to “stay in your niche” and not “write about random stuff.” Unfortunately for them, this is my blog, so, today is just a post about something that I’ve been thinking and learning more about recently. It might not be the prettiest, or the most organized but by golly I’m going to enjoy writing it. So let’s get into it. 


When you think “Bucket List” you probably think BIG and BOLD. Skydiving or taking a cruise around the world or building your dream home. That’s what I always think of too. Then this summer hit (I’m a teacher, so I get summers off to recover. It’s hard work over there!) and I realized that for an entire year, my whole life had been revolving around my job to some extent. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but I also love having hobbies. And when you’re a first year teacher usually hobbies aren’t something you get to do too much of. 


So I’m here, bored out of my mind, thinking to myself “What on earth am I going to do all summer?” (besides doomscroll and take naps of course). It was also around this time that I saw a TikTok (Yes, again with the doomscrolling. I know it’s a problem) that asked the question: “If someone were to watch a movie of your life, would they be able to see what your goals are?” And boy did that catch me off guard. I had spent so long in fight or flight mode during the school year that I had completely lost sight of what I wanted my life to reflect. After sitting with this uncomfortable thought for a few minutes, I decided to make a list of my goals/passions. 


Here’s what I came up with: 

  1. Glorifying Christ each day

  2. Publishing a book

  3. Sharing my writing with the world

  4. Being able to hike wherever I want

  5. Being intentional with the people around me


I then went on to make a list of all of the habits that would get me closer to each of these goals (reading my Bible, actually writing, posting on my blog, working out, reaching out to friends, etc.). This was hard for me, as I was still absolutely flabbergasted at how far I had strayed from my goals in the past year or so. However, at this point I was feeling really energized, so I decided to make a “Summer Bucket List” of things that will help me get closer to my goals (and some things that are just fun, like learning to play a new card game). 


The idea is simple. I have about two and a half months until school starts again. I don’t want to waste my time doing things that aren’t beneficial for me or the people around me, but (knowing myself) I won’t stay motivated enough to make the most out of my time. At the end of the day, we are called to glorify God in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23). This is where my idea for a bucket list of things to keep me moving comes from. 


If I am not actively pursuing my goals, no one is going to do it for me. I have to make the conscious decision to make the most of my time that I have here on Earth. If this is something that you are wanting to start doing, I’ve listed some ideas below!


  1. Study an entire book of the Bible

  2. Write/study/read in a coffee shop near you

  3. Bake something new

  4. Watch a TEDtalk about something you’ve never heard of before

  5. Write a letter to a friend

  6. Read a non-fiction book

  7. Take 20,000 steps in a day

  8. Complete a short story

  9. Write a song

  10. Learn to draw something interesting

  11. Learn a song in sign language

  12. Work on learning a new language


Obviously, this isn’t a comprehensive list. You should choose things for your bucket list that you are passionate about, or that will help you get closer to your goals. Remember: tomorrow isn’t promised. We have to make the most of today!


Have more bucket list ideas? Share them in the comments below!
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