100 New Year Bucket List Ideas To Make This Year Unforgettable

Don’t let another year slip by — fill your days with fun and unforgettable experiences using our favourite New Year bucket list ideas!

Are you ready to create the best memories ever?

Moments so special, exciting, or downright hilarious that you can’t wait to share them with friends and family, and keep retelling them for years to come?

Whether you’re dreaming about your next big adventure or enjoying life’s simple joys, a New Year bucket list is the perfect way to capture all the experiences you want to have. From serious milestones to playful fun, a list can help you stay focused and ensures you don’t waste any time or let any opportunity slip through the cracks.

This year is your year — let’s fill it with stories worth telling!

What Is A New Year Bucket List

Essentially, a New Year bucket list is a collection of goals, experiences, and activities you want to do or try in the upcoming year.

It’s not just about experiencing new things, but also making sure you carve time to engage in activities that you already love doing.

This might include traveling to new destinations or revisiting old ones, enrolling yourself in a new course, reading a certain number of books, or going skydiving.

Unlike a to-do list, a New Year bucket list is a tool for living intentionally, creating happiness, and making the most of your time.

There’s no right or wrong way to create your New Year bucket list — what matters is that it reflects your passions, desires and aspirations.

Why You Need A New Year Bucket List (Benefits)

It’s always nice to have something to look forward to, and a New Year bucket list does exactly that. Such list can help you approach the upcoming year with purpose, intention and excitement.

Here are 5 benefits of having a New Year bucket list:

1. Set intentions: Align your actions with what matters most to you. Whether it’s personal growth, adventure, or meaningful experiences, creating a list of what you want will keep you focus and intentional.
2. Keeps you motivated: Having a tangible list of goals and activities can keep you inspired and active throughout the year, especially during moments of stagnation, boredom or routine.
3. Create memorable moments: A New Year list encourages you to experience things differently. This includes stepping out of your comfort zone, exploring new opportunities and consciously create time to do activities that fills your heart.
4. Foster a growth mindset: New experiences leads to new growth and learning opportunities.
5. Celebrate progress: It’s fun and liberating to cross items off your list as you go through them. It also gives you a chance to reflect on your achievements and celebrate on how far you’ve come.

New Year Bucket List Ideas

As said, there is no right or wrong way to create your bucket list. It’s personal, and each experience should reflect your goals, needs, and desires. Here are 100 goals, activities and experiences to consider adding to your New Year bucket list.

Personal Growth and Expansion

1. Start a gratitude journal and list three things you appreciate each morning
2. Read one book a month, a total of 12 books per year
3. Take a course to learn a new skill that you could benefit you both personal and professional
4. Create a vision board and stick it to somewhere you can see everyday
5. Meditate daily for 5-10 minutes either in the morning or before you sleep
6. Listen daily to 30min self-improvement podcast while on commute
7. Read the financial news everyday for one whole year
8. Do outdoor deep box breathing once a day
9. Practice daily positive affirmations in front of the mirror at least 3 times a day
10. Attend a live TED or TEDx conference
11. Commit to a 3-month life coaching journey to break through barriers and unlock your potential

Travel and Adventure

12. Visit a UNESCO heritage site
13. Plan an elaborate solo trip to one of your favourite cities, including visits to new restaurants and old favourites
14. Join a tour to see the safari in South Africa
15. Go see the Northern or Southern lights
16. Try ziplining
17. Go on a spontaneous road trip without a set plan
18. Try a western horseback riding experience — don’t forget to wear your cowboy boots
19. Go see the Egyptian ruins
20. Go glamping
21. Ride a camel on the Silk Road
22. Visit TeamLab in Japan and take tons of photos
23. Watch the sunrise at Angkok Wat in silence
24. Visit The Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, and take some amazing photos
25. Go bungee jumping in a onesie costume
26. Go on a one week silent meditation retreat in India

Wellness, Health and Fitness

27. Commit to meal prepping 3 times a week
28. Drink 8-12 cups of water daily
29. Get 7-8 hours of sleep a day, weekends included
30. Go to bed by 10.30pm, weekends included
31. Do a full body check
32. Do a 5K or 10K fundraising charity run
33. Try a new fitness class (like yoga or kickboxing)
34. Complete a Disney marathon
35. Practice pilates everyday for one month
36. Practice yoga everyday for one month
37. Complete a 30 or 90 day fitness challenge
38. Join the Spartan Race
39. Try silent disco yoga in the park
40. Complete a triathlon
41. Spend each Sunday afternoon doing nothing
42. Speak to a therapist once every quarter
43. Do a lake swim challenge

Relationships and Social Life

44. Reconnect with an old friend that you miss dearly
45. Write a letter to yourself at the end of each month
46. Be proactive and plan a monthly date night with your besties
47. Do an A-Z dating (or alphabet dating) with your partner
48. Write an appreciation post-it note to your partner every day for the whole year
49. Host a board game night at your place once a month
50. Donate money to a charity that you care about every quarter
51. Talk to a stranger once a week
52. Go to a networking event once a month
53. Give your partner a kiss or hug every night before you sleep
54. Call or text your parents once a week

Arts, Hobbies and Creatives

55. Pick a room in your home and renovate it
56. Learn how to forage
57. Big or small, start a DIY project
58. Take up painting, photography, or pottery, and commit yourself to this activity at least once a week
59. Start a YouTube channel sharing your daily life
60. Visit a local art museum, popup or exhibition at once a month
61. Learn a musical instrument and aim to play it in a band by end of the year
62. Nurture a plant from a tiny seedling and watch it thrive under your care
63. Learn how to cook or perfect a signature dish
64. Knit your own scarf to wear in the cold season

Work and Career

65. Find yourself a work mentor or coach
66. Become someone’s mentor at work
67. Take an online course to accelerate your career
68. Go out for coffee with colleagues at least once a week
69. Go out for lunch with colleagues at least once a week
70. Volunteer yourself for company events at least once every quarter
71. Have a 1:1 catch up with your manager at least once a month
72. Get promoted
73. Take a sabbatical leave

Expensive and Luxurious

74. Go on a hot air balloon ride
75. Buy a car
76. Pamper yourself to a beauty medical treatment
77. Dine at a 3-Michelin star restaurant
78. Buy yourself an expensive piece of jewellery of your liking
79. Buy yourself an luxury designer bag
80. Go on a helicopter tour and share it on social media
81. Join an around the world cruise tour
82. Buy a house or a condo

Just Because

83. Watch the sunset everyday for the month of July
84. Attend a live concert or sports event
85. Complete an escape room challenge by yourself
86. Commit to a no-spend month
87. Attend a masquerade ball
88. Do a wine tasting tour in South of France
89. Dance under the rain
90. Start a side hustle or create your own freelancing gig
91. Try an Akashic record reading
92. Attend an autumn/winter fashion show in Paris or Milan
93. Meditate at 4am in the morning for one week
94. Visit a haunted house on Halloween night
95. Take a photo of yourself everyday for the whole year
96. Do a cold shower once a month
97. Save $5 a day until the end of the year
98. Write a book and publish it on Amazon KDP
99. Declutter and donate every single item in your closet that you no longer like or use
100. No alcohol for one whole year

Conclusion

A New Year bucket list is all about creating memorable moments and embracing new opportunities. It’s not just about ticking off items but about living with intention, embracing joy, and creating lasting memories that counts.

May your New Year be packed with fun, excitement and unforgettable moments!

You may also like:

• How To Plan Ahead: 125 New Year Journal Prompts
• The Ultimate List: 420+ Word Of The Year Ideas (2025)
• How To Be Happy: 15 Habits of Happy People