Jun 19

Jun 19 What would you have on your everyday bucket list?

Say ‘bucket list’ and, if you’re anything like me, your mind will immediately conjure up the big life goals that you’ve always dreamed/promised yourself you’ll try to do before you can’t any more. Like skydiving, or seeing the Great Wall of China, or visiting the Maldives (in case you couldn’t guess, those are the items on my big ticket list).

What if there was another sort of bucket list, though? One that can deliver just as much joy, satisfaction and, should you be so inclined, thrills. One made up of “I’ve always wanted to try/do that” things which you can weave into your life without having to save up, prepare, or give a chunk of time to. Things that are doable. Delightful. Life-enhancing without being life-changing. An everyday bucket list.

I put this idea to the lovely readers of the These Are the Heydays newsletter, which, if you don’t already know, you can find HERE on Substack, and sign up to, in order to get a weekly helping of bite-size ideas, inspiration, information and fun, by by filling in the details in the box at the very bottom of this, and every, page on this website. These are some of the things some of them would include on their everyday bucket lists:

1) complete cross stitch projects
2) read my pile of books, starting with the most recent purchase
3) complete my (far too many} knitting projects.
Haha, sounds simple until you see the quantity of crafts I have. Carol.

“I now have much more time on my hands to give myself TLC that was lost being an on-hands mom. I make sure that my day has moments, or hours, dedicated to what brings me joy and peace. It varies day to day as I’m trying new things as I find my new empty nester legs. I have found TV shows that are only mine to watch…nothing has any sports in it! I like to read - spooky creepy novels or a sweet romance. This all brings me joy. And the satisfying bit? A lovely cuppa at my side so I can sip whilst I watch or read.. The rewards are very soul satisfying.” Charline

“I’ve always wanted to know more about my family history, so setting aside time to research that is top of my everyday bucket list”. Sarah

“I know it’s hardly sounds ambitious or glamorous, which I suppose is sort of the point about an everyday bucket list, but now that I’m retired I’ve finally got the time to sort out all the cupboards and drawers that are filled with too much stuff. So I’d put sorting through those on the list.” Tina

“I’ve always enjoyed cooking, so top of my everyday bucket list is to do some cookery courses so I can learn new dishes and techniques.” Nick

Mine are travel-related, but close to home rather than far-flung. I’d love to go glamping. Something I’ve never done. Ditto going to a festival of some sort (probably not Glastonbury, that feels a bit too ambitious for a festival newbie!) Maybe I could combine the two! I’ve also always wanted to visit the Lake District, which is only three or so hours from where I live, which makes it all the more shocking that I’ve never been!” Debbie

“I’d like to learn a new language (either Spanish or Italian); take my mum back to the seaside hotel we used to go to as a family when I was growing up; and do some volunteering - there are several great charities and organisations around where I live, so it’ll be a case of choosing which one.” Steve

I love all of those, don’t you?

Of course they set me thinking what would be on my everyday bucket list. Turns out there are quite a few things.

I’ve always enjoyed learning new skills - bridge, block printing and upholstery have been the most recent (I wrote about my experience of doing the latter HERE) - so I want to keep doing that. I have my sights on improving my sewing skills as the next learning project.

Restoring the dolls house my father made for me and my sisters. I love the idea of my little gang of grands playing with it.

Read more, look at my phone less (once I’ve done the next thing on the list).

Sort through the hundreds, oh alright, thousands, of pictures on my phone, delete the ones I don’t need any more and put others into albums so I can actually find them when I’m looking for a specific one..

Redecorate my bedroom. I do love it, but it’s been twelve years since I moved into my little house, and it feels in need of a refresh.

Get some lovely lighting in my garden. It’s sooooo wonderful sitting out in it during the day (as I am as I type this), but in the evening it’s too dark to enjoy it as much.

Watch more documentaries. I love listening to podcasts about interesting subjects and people, but I’m less good at seeking out and viewing television programmes that do the same.

Go away with each of my grands in turn when they’re a bit older. My mum did this with my girls (and the rest of her grandchildren) and it was so special. They each got to choose the trip they wanted to do. I very much hope to do that with mine when the time is right.

I realise I might have strayed into bigger bucket list territory with that last one, so I’ll stop now. What would be on your everyday bucket list?