How To Make Your Bucket List To Help Depression| Life Goals
Sometimes we go through life unfocused and are unclear about where our actions are going to lead us down the road. You only live once right? Yes YOLO, but without clear life goals, living for the moment could be putting major limits on your future self.
Setting goals the right way can even help depression.
Write down your life goals to give every day direction, meaning, and purpose giving you abundant fulfillment! I’ve compile a list of my favorite life goals below to get you started on your own bucket list.
I’ve lived a few years now, 41 to be exact. I’ve learned that my 20 year old self and 40 year old self are the same person! I don’t know why this came as a shock to me but it did a little bit. Even though my life and surroundings on the outside have changed completely I am the same person.
Years ago my 80 year old aunt told me on her 80th birthday she still felt the same as she did when she was 18. That confused my young brain at the time but has all become clear as time has gone on for me.
Just because my number keeps changing doesn’t mean much. Ask any 6 year old turning 7 if they feel any different. It’s kind of the same thing.
Going through life with clear goals is key to living the life we have here to the fullest. The days are going to tick by whether we have a plan or not. Too much of our time can be wasted on the mundane and meaningless if we don’t write some things down.
I spent too many years stuck in a bad place and only find myself moving backwards. There have been times when I thought anything on this bucket list or any life goal I once had was a lost cause. I’m here to tell you DON’T GIVE UP.
Some goals may need to be tweaked along the way and some you may find are really not that important to you but the feeling of excitement and fun that comes with dreaming along the way is sometimes more fulfilling then achieving the goal.
Get out your pen and paper and write your list. Start with the categories and ideas below to get your creative juices flowing. Your intuition will kick in and the things that spark the most joy for you are the things that will give your life the most fulfillment.
You may be surprised to find out many material things you thought you wanted actually aren’t as meaningful as you thought.
Health
- Love the Body I’m in.
- Prepare for and run a race… maybe a marathon!
- Get all the Sleep
Wealth
- Retire early
- Save $ and be financially secure
- Drive my dream car
- Travel/ See the seven wonders of the world
- Own a beach house
Relationships
- Resolve family family conflict, or agree to disagree
- Forgive and forget
- Love fiercely
- Say I love you everyday
- Have close friendships
Spirituality
- Have spiritual growth
- Love who I am
- Do the right thing
- Have peace
Fun and Unforgettable
- Go Bungee Jumping
- Go Sky Diving
- Meet you Idol
- See your favorite band in concert
Fun
- Go on a helicopter ride
- Watch baby turtles go into the Ocean
- Learn to play the piano
- Learn a second language
Leave your Mark on the World
- Write a book
- Start a foundation
- Start a Business that will support your family for generations
- Rescue a puppy
- Give people a reason to remember my name
Read this article about How I Learned to Set Goals and Actually Achieve them to give you motivation to started walking towards your dreams.
Why having clear goals helps with depression:
Lack of believing you can achieve your goals is a symptom of depression. Just seeing the list above could seem overwhelming and impossible.
Research has shown the those with depression have just as much motivation and those without but have more pessimistic beliefs about accomplishing them. Also, the type of goal set were avoidance goals. This type of goal is like trying to stop a bad habit rather than start doing something positive like start showing more gratitude.
Notice the list above, or any bucket list you find, will have goals around positive actions rather than focusing on reducing negative outcomes.
I have found relief in small ways by setting small clear attainable goals. The feeling of accomplishment from crossing something off your list, no matter how small, gives the brain a boost of dopamine.
Make a list of positive goals. These goals should feel good as a posed to a negative goal that is just a reminder of how you may be failing at something. Avoid goals like reducing angry outbursts and aim for goals like taking more walks.
You are doing something positive as opposed to avoiding the negative. This small difference helps shift the thoughts in your head and these are thoughts you can build on with time. Use your imagination.
Set your intention on pressing forward and keeping the dreams alive. Let this be a tool to keep despair and negative thinking from winning over your thoughts.
It’s time to start setting some goals! Start taking small steps with small goals and you will soon be crossing things off your list. The more meaningful and aligned with your priorities your bucket list is they more exciting and fulfilling it will be when you’ve reached your goal.
What’s on your Bucket List??
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