How to Build the Ultimate Cozy Fall Bucket List

I genuinely treasure making seasonal bucket lists. They help me be mindful and intentional with my time. It’s a way to slow down and savor the moments. Especially during the fall, I get to come up with something new and creative while still bringing in the nostalgia and coziness of past seasons. I get to share some of these activities with friends and family, and some are just for myself. In any case, it’s a beautiful opportunity to discover new things I love in this particular season of life—knowing that I’ll only experience this age during this season once. 

I’m a bit of an overorganizer sometimes, so this step-by-step guide will help you create an ultimate fall bucket list. It’s a lovely way to celebrate the season and discover things you may not have realized you adore doing.  

Don’t stress if it comes to the end of the season and you don’t finish everything on the list. Think of it as the fall menu. This bucket list is for all the autumns. Yes, there will be some you want to do this summer or maybe are only available this summer, like a museum exhibit in your city, but I would be remiss not to warn you to be kind to yourself and the inherent perfectionism that comes with list making. 

I started a Youtube Channel! And my first video is about building this list, so here is a shorter version of how I build a fall bucket list. Read on for the *ultimate* guide.

HOW TO BUILD the ultimate falL BUCKET LIST

1. Start with mindful beginnings. Brain dump and set an intention.

Get on paper what a good fall season looks like for you. You can draw, doodle, or write about it. Think about previous fall seasons and your dream fall season. Ask yourself how your senses are ignited during these seasons and what makes them feel full. Take your time with this, and allow yourself to enjoy the daydream. Set an intention for the season to help you return to your list and get into the vibes. Some examples are:

• This autumn season, I will embrace comfort and practice gratitude.
• This autumn season, I will reconnect with nature and immerse myself in creative hobbies.
• This autumn season, I will become the ultimate Fall Gremlin.

Whatever works for you! 

2. Gather Inspiration & Ideas

Scroll through Pinterest, YouTube, and blogs. Read an atmospheric fall book, or take some time to reminisce. Jot down or save anything that interests you and could be added to your list. Let your mind visualize the season and get in the mood for autumn.

3. Sort & Categorize Your Joy

I am a bucket type of person when it comes to my final list, but you can do whatever you like. Consider one long list, a bunch of mini lists, or a single bucketed list. Either way, in this step, create general categories to guide you in creating list items.  Choose a few buckets of experiences that encompass your inspiration, and they don’t have to be perfect; some will overlap. Here are some examples:

• Outdoors
• Movies
• Visuals
• Books
• Eats
• Reads
• Crafts
• Games
• Holiday
• Spiritual
• With Friends 
• Wearing/ The Looks
• Introspective

4.Curate Your Activities

Go through each bucket and fill in activities. You can be broad, like “watch a fall movie,” or more specific, like “Read Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell.” Vagueness works for templatizing/making your seasonal list to return to; specificity is excellent for honing in on this upcoming season. Here are a few ideas:

• Movies – Host a cozy movie night with friends featuring only fall-themed animated films like Coco, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and ParaNorman
• Visuals—Take a scenic drive out of the city and find where the leaves are changing. 
• Eats—Try a new fall recipe you’ve never made before, using seasonal fruits or vegetables, like an early fall Plum Torte, hasselback potatoes, or pumpkin maple cornbread.
• The Looks—Put together an outfit with inspiration from a book, movie, or game character in the fall, like Corduroy (yes, the bear), Wednesday Adams, or Crystal Palace from Dead Detective Boys.
• Introspective – Practice mindful meditation outdoors, focusing on the sights, sounds, and smells of fall where you are. 
• Games – Whip out the fall scenic puzzles. Finish one that is at least 750 pieces.
• Books – Read a gothic novel like The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, or Beloved by Toni Morrison. 

5. Design Your Perfect Bucket List

There are many options for how to get this down. You can design a template on Canva, use Notion, an analog-style pen and paper, a Pinterest board, and even a presentation. You can paint your list, make it into a poster, write in your journal, or make it a phone background—any which way. The options are endless.  Canva has tons of free options you can duplicate. Trying a new way to express this list each season could be fun.

6. Set Up Some Accountability

Returning to your bucket list throughout the season is critical! Even though we don’t want to put too much undue pressure on ourselves, we want to make time for what we enjoy and embody the season. Set up some recurring times on your calendar, find a friend to do stuff with and be accountable to, and return to the list weekly. Add a check-in for your bucket list to whatever weekly ritual you have going on. If you call a friend or family member every Monday, tell them about it and have them ask about what you’re doing on your list. If you have a planner and plan out your weeks, add it. Make this time for yourself. It will be well worth it. 

7. Document & Archive Your Adventures

Document the process. Whether through journaling, video, photos, or even voice recordings, document and archive your experience. These are beautiful memories we want to keep forever! You can scrapbook, create a seasonal journal, or just have a folder of photos on your phone. However you do it, be sure to document your joy practices. It’s beautiful.

Here’s my current bucket list! I might change it around a bit, but I’m loving it so far.

Ok, be on your way! As I develop my list, I’ll post some ideas on the blog, so be on the lookout for them. Ok, go forth and prosper!  Let me know how it goes!