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Reverse Bucket List Ideas
Prompts for writing down what you've already done, from the big milestones to the small wins.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Aim for at least 50. The Uncaged Life says to list that many things you've already done, and nothing is too small. Location Rebel says to clear out an hour or so, then write down anything you're proud of, even from years ago. These prompts are here to jog your memory, so skip what doesn't apply. Future goals are left out entirely. Think of it as a bucket list played backwards, minus the guilt.
Why these items are on the list
- Pay off a debt. A credit card bill is fair game. Becca cleared a 14-year student loan in under two years.
- Pay your own way through school. If you did it yourself, write it down. Becca opened her list with this one.
- Take a solo trip. Anywhere at all, near or far.
- Learn a new language. Any language you picked up along the way.
- Publish a blog post. A Kindle book would fit here too, if you've got one.
- Teach English abroad. Teaching in another country is a big line to have.
- Win a spelling bee or contest. A 6th-grade spelling bee, a Halloween costume contest. Small stages, real wins.
- Win an award, however small. Liz Froment still lists her junior-high basketball camp award, Hustle and Desire.
- Keep a best friend for years. Location Rebel's example: the same best friend since 3rd grade. Maybe text them.
- Volunteer every Thanksgiving. Showing up at the local soup kitchen every single year is a long streak.
- Give a wedding toast. Standing up and giving it takes nerve. Put it down.
- Name something you've loved. Ferguson suggests asking yourself what you've loved. Put that on the list.
- List skills you've learned. Ferguson suggests including skills you've learned, big or ordinary.
- Buy a car. Becca later added finally learning to drive at 36. Late is still a win.
- Note relationships you've built. Relationships you've cultivated belong here, right next to the achievements.
- Get a big promotion. Oprah Daily notes a big promotion last year shows how capable you are.
- Hike an active volcano. From Becca's list at The Uncaged Life, and a bold one.
- Move to another country. Doing it alone makes the entry even bigger.
- Lead a workshop. Becca's list counts leading a workshop for 20+ people as a win.
- Start your own business. Becca's list has starting an online business on it. Count yours here.
- Pull an all-nighter on the beach. Stay up all night, then watch the sun come up. Fair trade.
- Learn to tell the hard truth. Becca's list includes learning to tell the hard truth. Tick it if you have.
- Get through something hard. Ferguson's prompt asks what you've survived. Hard seasons belong here too.
- Save mementos to revisit moments. Pictures, recommendation letters or trip mementos in your journal help you revisit these moments later.
- See dolphins in the wild. Jessie Van Amburg ticked this off on a Caribbean trip. The novel? Still unfinished.
Tick what applies, then keep going on lines of your own. Nothing here is a race, and it's easy to hand to a friend and compare notes.
When to use it
Use it when someone else's wall of wins has you feeling behind.