Are you a list maker? Like most people, you probably have a daily or weekly to do list. You may even have a bucket list or a list of long-term goals. But do you have a curious list? If you’ve never heard of such a list, keep reading. My goal for today is to inspire you to start one.

I’ve always been a list maker. Last week on my personal blog, I discussed the benefits of a daily to do list. But a couple of years ago, I started a new list…a curious list. It’s a different way of looking at a bucket list.

The term “bucket list” has never appealed to me. It’s great to have a list of goals or things we want to achieve, but the whole concept of getting things done before you “kick the bucket” feels a little negative. It also creates unnecessary pressure to beat the clock and tick things off the list.

The Background Behind the Curious List

I first learned about the curious list in my coursework for the Certified Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC) designation. As a retirement coach, I help people create a plan for the non-financial side of retirement—something that gets very little attention in the retirement planning process.

A big part of the retirement coaching process is helping people figure out what to do with the 2,000 or more hours a year they used to spend working. It might seem hard to believe amid the pressure of work, raising a family, and the general busyness of life, but the novelty of all that free time wears off quickly. This is especially true for someone who didn’t make time for hobbies, or whose entire identity was tied up in their job.

Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with some downtime and taking time to daydream can help spark creativity. On the other hand, many experts say prolonged periods of boredom can increase stress levels and worsen mental health conditions.

That’s where the curious list comes in.

Creating a curious list is an exercise to help people generate ideas on how to fill their time in retirement. But it’s not just for retirement. Everyone needs a curious list for times when they feel bored, restless, or just in need of a new challenge.

Creating Your Curious List

A curious list is exactly as the name implies—a list of things you’re interested in or want to explore further when time permits. By putting them on the list, you’re not committing to doing them. But, at any time in the future, you can pull out the list when you have time on your hands.

A curious list sets up a desire to do, be, and learn more without the pressure of a bucket list.

I’ve been building my curious list over the last couple of years. Right now, there are 26 things on the list, and I add new activities and ideas to it all the time. Here’s a sample of a few things from my list.

• Learn sign language.
• Write a book.
• Research my family tree.
• Brush up on my high school German and plan a trip to Germany.
• Get involved in community TV.
• Volunteer at a local theatre.
• Songwriting.

In time, I’ll get to some of them, but there may be others I never do. That’s the beauty of the curious list. There’s no pressure!

I challenge you to take 10 minutes to start your own curious list. Keep it handy and add to it whenever you hear of something that intrigues you. The more things on the list the better!

With your curious list in hand, you’ll never need to be bored again.

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What would you put on your curious list? Drop me a comment below to let me know.

Learn more about me in my bio and on my personal blog at BoomerEcoCrusader.com. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.