Travel Guide: Why You Don't Need a Bucket List

Once in a lifetime dreams: Climb Mount Everest, see all 7 wonders of the world, live abroad for a year and travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok – quite a few people keep a to-do list of the things they would absolutely like to experience at least once in their lives ... or actually must have experienced?

Why creating a bucket list is not always advisable:

From compulsion to pressure

The things to write down on your bucket list are almost endless. They may include diverse areas, from travel and nature to professional goals or to getting to know one’s favourite celebrity. When compiling their bucket lists, quite a few people realize that their list gets longer and longer and longer – without being able to putting a tick behind all the big dreams. Just writing them down doesn't bring you any closer to your goals. It is not surprising that this is often accompanied by dissatisfaction and excessive demands.

Happiness cannot be ticked off

Anyone who thinks that happiness can simply be ticked off is unfortunately wrong. If you are constantly chasing big things, you miss the small moments of joy, and these often turn out to be true happiness. You think, the apparently big highlight is the visit to the Sphinx, the football match, the five-course meal in the expensive restaurant? Or isn’t it rather the nice conversation with the lady on the bus and the coffee in the morning on the sunny hotel balcony?

Spontaneity instead of imposition

If you have ever embarked on a longer trip without planning it in advance, you will have noticed that the greatest adventures are usually those that happen spontaneously. The more you plan and calculate in advance, the more restrictions you impose on yourself. Let yourself go, be flexible, seize opportunities and remain your own master instead of sticking rigidly to a list – simply live the moment and experience great happiness in the unexpected.

Appreciate small things, preserve dreams, stay calm

Our conclusion: Of course, everyone has dreams and goals, and writing them down can be inspiring and motivating. But one should not be influenced by other people and lists à la "1000 places to see before you die". As individual as each person is, as individual are their wishes and goals – none better or worse than the other.

Furthermore, a bucket list is not a compulsory programme! If the implementation of some points is a little difficult, stay calm. What’s your drive if you suddenly have nothing more to dream about? And last but not least: don't lose sight of the small moments of happiness because they are what lightens up everyday life.