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How Making A “Reverse Bucket List” Can Make You Happier
As a travel enthusiast, (and by that I mean I LOVE TRAVELLING) I have a long wish list of sights, attractions and events. I now have about a dozen different places I want to travel to, and I also need to join a photography class to improve my skills. In addition, I want to push myself to explore more things and dive into my newfound interests. There are also some musicians that I want to see live at least once in my life.
While this motivates me to take action, my bucket list can often overwhelm me like a shameful reminder of everything I didn't do. It can feel like I have so much to do - and a moment when I'm not doing something on the list is not a moment well spent. Fortunately, amid the recent wave of bucket list anxiety, I learned about something called the reverse bucket list. At the start, I had no idea what this new term meant at all! And I do know that while y'all are reading this, the thought would have crossed your mind as well.
It's a mindfulness exercise that's been making the rounds on the blogs lately. The reverse bucket list is pretty simple: instead of writing down all the things you hope to achieve one day, instead, write a list of everything you've already achieved that you're proud of. It's the complete opposite of a typical bucket list and an encouraging exercise.
(Related: This Introvert's Secret to Happiness: Be Less "Successful" Guidelines Researchers haven't specifically looked at the benefits of a reverse bucket list, but the exercise taps into some well-researched themes like gratitude. Gratitude is usually thought of as appreciating everything you have now, but it can also include everything you've done and experienced in the past.)
Think of a reverse list as a gratitude exercise: you are proud of your experiences and achievements and take time to be thankful for them.
Reverse bucket listers also use the power of nostalgia!
Finally, creating a reverse bucket list can give us a sense of progress. Traditional bucket lists can often feel like a daily to-do list – overwhelming and impossible. However, appreciating what has been achieved can create a sense of progress, which can boost self-esteem and motivation. This is why productivity enthusiasts praise to-do lists - seeing that we've made progress is more encouraging than feeling like we're falling behind. And we get great satisfaction!
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Written by Rishitha AK
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