Make A Reverse Bucket List To Push Through Tough Times

In 2018 after achieving financial independence and blasting well past my so-called FI number, I was comfortably semi-retired and working part time.  But I was also upset.

Two years prior I started putting serious time into my graphic design side hustle.  I felt a strong desire to pursue the creative part of my brain after a long career in an analytical and technical field. 

My side hustle income was growing, but like the stock market it’s growth was interspersed with down months.  Sometimes a few in a row. 

After a big down month where I made $79 total I vividly remember thinking “What am I doing?  I’m putting a shit-ton of effort into these designs and this hustle, and my income this month barely covered my internet bill.  Where is this going?” 

At that point I had set a goal of $500 a month in income from my designs, but my best month was $172.  And as my earnings dipped below $100 for yet another month my goal seemed unachievable.

 

The Reverse Bucket List

We all know the concept of bucket lists.  Items on a list could be places to go or milestones to achieve.  Regardless, they’re things you really want to accomplish before you die.

We’re always looking forward to what’s next.  The will and need to accomplish the next thing is strong and part of our genetic makeup.  It’s a feature not a bug as it’s taken us from the dark ages to the enlightenment and a much better world for everyone. 

But at an individual level the constant drive to push to the next thing often creates anxiety, stress, fear, and emptiness.  Simply having a bucket list where so many of the items persist as the years flip by on the calendar can be stressful.  At some point you wonder if you’re ever going to see the Great Pyramids, or dive the Barrier Reef.

But what about a reverse bucket list?   A reverse bucket list means taking an inventory of all of the cool things you’ve already accomplished, and the amazing places you’ve been.  It’s a cross between an exercise in gratitude and pride.

This form of looking back, also called grateful recounting, has been shown to enhance well-being.  It’s a bit different than a traditional gratitude list where you might say “I’m grateful for my health”.  That’s in the here and now.  A reverse bucket list is looking back and expressing gratitude for events in the past.

 

Precedent

A reverse bucket list can help quell your stress and fears of achieving your existing bucket list because it sets precedent.  It’s a reminder of what you’re capable of, that you are capable. 

Using the accomplishments you’re proud of as positive energy, you can deflate the stress and doubt about your future bucket list items. 

In no way does creating a reverse bucket list assure success of your future bucket list.  But the highlight reel it creates can serve as a reminder that you’re now a different person than you were then.  You’re a compilation of those successes and experiences, with new wisdom to apply.  You’ve got a track record.

 

Well, I Did That

I can still get frustrated sometimes at the progress in my business.  But here’s the thing – I now routinely make over $1500 a month and often over $2000. 

So every time I get frustrated I use a reverse bucket list strategy and write down the fact that I eventually met the $500 a month goal I set way back in 2018.  I also met the subsequent goal I set after that for my monthly income to pay my mortgage.  Done.

When I look at the adventure related items on my bucket list, which dominate the list, it can seem daunting.  There’s an endless list of mountains I want to climb, trails I want to hike, and places I want to paddle.  Many of these items require a skill level that I may not yet have.

So any time I feel anxious about another year slipping by as I don’t check off any items, I try to intercept that feeling by reflecting on the awesome shit I’ve already done.  Writing them down helps, that’s what a list is after all.

This blog has helped tremendously.  Writing about many of my adventures here on Accidental FIRE has basically been an exercise in creating a reverse bucket list that I can go back and read.  With lessons and themes related to finances woven in. 

And every time I write a post about some epic adventure from my past, it gives me a great excuse to look back at the pictures and take a trip down memory lane.  Why take pictures if you never go back and look at them?  Looking at pics from your past accomplishments is basically a reverse bucket list strategy.

 

Look Back

That which gets measured gets improved.  If you’re on the journey to financial independence hopefully you’re tracking things.  Mainly your overall net worth, but you should at least track savings and spending at a bare minimum.  When you do this, you can produce charts of your progress. 

Because that day will come when you’re at work and everything sucks, and you’ll be stressed and wondering why you’re not making more progress on you’re financial independence goals.  Then you can look at your net worth chart and see that you (hopefully) have made progress.  Look back – you did that. 

It’s akin to a reverse bucket list.  If you have a financial bucket list goal of being worth $3 million and you’re not there yet, it’s important to look back and realize you did hit $500,000.  And you can’t get to $3 million without passing $500,000 first. 

A while back I did a post about the importance of milestones and listed some big ones to consider on your journey to FI.  They are:

• Spending less than you make 
• Maxing out your 401k 
• Maxing out all available tax-advantaged accounts
• Paying off all debts
• First year your investment returns exceed your expenses
• First year your investment returns exceed your savings  
• First year your investment returns exceed your income

That’s not an exhaustive list but includes some major milestones.  If you’ve reached some of those goals and have totally forgotten about it, you might want to write it down from time to time as a reverse bucket list to re energize yourself for future goals. 

That’s all I’ve got folks, your turn – Have you ever used or considered a reverse bucket list?