Bucket Journal ~ It's a special journal to dream about, plan, and record your bucket list memories .

How To Get the Most From Your Bucket Journal

An excellent way to remember everything you’ve done while pursuing your bucket list goals is to keep a Bucket Journal™, which can be devoted to one trip, hobby, or bucket list topic at a time.

You’ll write and add mementos and memories into the journal so you can look back on it with pride and happiness. In addition, journaling allows you to share your journey with others and leave a legacy.

Use these tips to get the most out of your bucket journaling now and in the future.

Start with the Planning Phase

Start writing in your bucket journal at the beginning of your planning phase. Then, use it to prepare by researching the destination website.

We give you URLs and QR codes to make this easier.

Be sure to put some dream time into this process.

You might not be able to see everything on this trip, but learn as much as you can about where you are going. It will help you focus and create the best experience.

Ask yourself:

What do you want to accomplish on the trip?
Is this a family outing or only for adults?
What do you want to experience?
Is it essential for you to be in nature, or are museums your thing?
What do you like to learn? Is the history of this place or area important to your experience?
When will you do each activity?
Is there enough time for the things you are interested in?

Each Travel Bucket Journal has a page for planning your adventure. We purposefully leave this open-ended, giving you the information you need to learn more about the destination.

We want you to create the perfect experience that fits your interests and individual goals. How boring for us to tell you what you should do at each park!

Write Daily During Your Trip

Once you’re on the trip, don’t miss out on writing every day. Instead, set aside time to write in your journal when the experience is vivid in your mind.

In addition, you might want to consider taking a recording device with you so you can record your initial thoughts while doing it.

Sit down each evening as a group and answer some guided questions on the journal page.

Add Physical Mementos

Don’t just add text to your bucket journal; add color, images, and mementos. For example, save your tickets, a napkin from a restaurant, or other little things you touched during your trip.

You don’t even have to buy anything extra to do this part.

Remember to Write the Good and the Bad

That’s what a Bucket Journal helps you do. It’s okay to talk about what was good and bad. When you do that, you can plan differently next time.

Maybe you learned that you need new shoes if you’re going to walk that much. It’s a good thing to write down.

If you ever go back to that travel destination, what would you do differently now that you’ve been there once?

Journal about how you might change what you chose to do or about something else you discovered you wanted to do, but there wasn’t time.

Bring in some emotion. Talk about the things that were disappointments. Were the people rude? Did a member of your group get sick?

Also, did something unexpected happen that thrilled you and excited you? Maybe it was seeing your first wild bald eagle or a majestic mountain view. Describe it in your bucket journal.

Add facts you learned about your destination, the interesting people you met, and who you traveled with. Did you discover a historical fact previously unknown?

When It’s Over, Finish By Writing a Last Reflective Entry

After the trip, take the time to write one last entry where you reflect again on everything you learned about the trip. Talk about what it was like, what you learned, what surprised you, and so forth.

A Bucket Journal will improve your memory of these once-in-a-lifetime bucket list events. As a result, you’ll retain more information, have wonderful memories to share, and - believe it or not - it’ll help you make the next trip even better.

What do you think of these tips? Do you already do all this? Are you inspired to try? We’d love to know in the comments.