Retirement Bucket List

The symbolic meaning behind a bucket list is the tangible recognition of mortality, according to Stanford Medicine. A retirement bucket list allows you to reflect on what matters most – from your personal values and identity, to important life milestones and experiences that you want to have before a certain time in your life.

Linda Chavez, the founder and CEO of Seniors Life Insurance Finder, offered insight on the importance of creating a retirement bucket list.

“A bucket list is an important tool for seniors to help them stay motivated and enjoy life as they age. Bucket lists offer seniors the opportunity to set meaningful goals, challenge themselves, and look back on accomplishments with pride.”

“Completing a bucket list can also provide a sense of purpose and encourage seniors to reflect on their life experiences in meaningful ways.” Chavez told RetireGuide.

Instead of a generalized retirement bucket list, RetireGuide compiled multiple tiers of retirement bucket list ideas to fit your individual lifestyle.

There are six retirement buckets in total, each with a different overall retirement goal, such as social connection during retirement or focusing on your own personal interests. Every road to retirement looks different and our bucket lists can help you find fulfillment in your golden years.

That being said, you can choose goals from different buckets if you have multiple retirement goals.

Feel free to print out our PDF below to fill out your bucket list as you read along.

The bucket list below is based on your social life. It’s best for those prioritizing friendships, relationships and community bonding throughout their golden years. If you want new friends to accompany you, consider using online platforms like Meetup or Senior Planet Community.

According to the National Library of Medicine, frequently going to social outings can be an effective treatment for older adults with anxiety and depression, and can improve their overall quality of life. If you feel socially isolated at times, adding one of the bucket list ideas below could improve your mental health.

It’s important to continue developing your personal interests and learn new things in retirement. According to Harvard Health Publishing, practicing a new and challenging activity is good for building and maintaining your cognitive skills.

Traveling can have a positive impact on your mental health by reducing stress while increasing creativity and productivity, according to the Mental Health Association in Delaware.

If you’re feeling stressed and unmotivated, adding some fun travel options to your retirement bucket list can improve your quality of life.

You can take a road trip, go on a cruise or visit unique landmarks like the ones listed below.

Volunteering and giving back to your community can help you battle loneliness by rekindling your sense of purpose and human connection.

According to the Institute for Health Care Policy & Innovation, a recent study showed a third of individuals 50 to 80 years old reported feelings of loneliness and isolation, or that they even go a week or more without socializing with anyone outside their household. Some of these bucket list ideas can help improve your personal fulfillment and connection with others in retirement.

A breath of fresh air and greenery can provide you with many mental and physical benefits, according to the West Hartford Health & Rehabilitation Center. Just 15 minutes of sunlight can provide your daily dose of vitamin C, which lessens the risk of osteoporosis, cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

If any of the ideas listed below sound enticing to you, consider adding them to your retirement bucket list.

Leaving a legacy and reflecting upon your accomplishments is an important part of growing older. While skydiving and travel are always fun bucket list items, reminiscing on the mark you’ve left on this world and its future may be just as important for you.

Editor Malori Malone contributed to this article.