December Bucket List

Can you even believe it’s December already? It seemed like this year was dragging on and then the last part hit and now it’s flying by! There are so many activities on my December Bucket List that I’m not even sure I’ll have time to finish them all.

Most people have at least heard of a Bucket List, even if they’ve never made one. Just in case you aren’t familiar, a Bucket List is a list of things that you want to do…not to be confused with lists of things that you need to do. (That’s a whole different ballgame and my “to do” lists are out of control, y’all!)

I’m not skipping out on a Christmas Bucket List, but today I want to talk about my December Bucket List. I’ve even made a handy dandy fill-in-the-blank Bucket List printable that you can download below!

December Bucket List

What’s On the List?

Ignoring the obvious holiday-related activities, a December Bucket List should include some things that are just for you. These could be things that you have been meaning to treat yourself to for a while or possibly, things that can only be done in this particular month.

My December Bucket List includes:

1. Writing a letter to a friend who I keep forgetting to get in touch with. She sent me a lovely Christmas card last year and I meant to reply back and let her know I am still alive and kicking!. We don’t have friends in common, don’t live in the same area, and I don’t even know if she’s on social media. So, my friends, we are going old school with a handwritten letter!!
2. Decluttering my oldest son’s bedroom. He hasn’t lived with us for a few years now and we’ve used it as a catch-all room. It’s honestly overwhelming how much stuff we’ve managed to cram in there and I’m done with it! We need the space so that my Momma (and others) can come spend the night and also, because the piano is currently in there. I’d hate for everyone to come for Christmas and have to listen to the kids playing with the door closed. Haha! No way I want anyone to see that mess!
3. Designing new printables for my blog and my Etsy shop. (Check out Grits, Grace, and Sparkle on Etsy!) I’m woefully behind. I have a list of at least three pages worth of designs I want to create. My laptop died in November and I had to wait to buy a new one. That, along with having horribly slow internet that goes in and out, put me so far behind.
4. Writing as much as possible. I miss writing. Not just blog posts, but random things. I wrote a poem for one of my Etsy printables and it reminded me just how much I enjoy writing. Maybe it’s time to start on one of those books I want to write!!
5. Reading. There is a huge stack of books in my bedroom that are just begging to be read. Not to mention what’s in the closet and on my Kindle. Anyone down for a Reading Challenge??
6. Baking bread. Do any That One Mom readers bake bread? I’ve done it before, but I’m not the best baker. Baking is so precise and precise I am not. There are numerous crockpot bread recipes on Pinterest though and I’ve wanted to try one for a while. If anyone has done this, send me some tips!!
7. Having a self-care day where I completely pamper myself! Chemo has wreaked havoc on my skin and even keeping it moisturized is a chore. A self-care day would be the perfect time to try some homemade hair and skin treatments!
8. Going on a date with my husband. Our dates generally consist of going to the doctor’s office and then getting a bite to eat afterward. I’m working on a 12 Dates of Christmas post, so whether he likes it or not, he’s going to be my test subject. (I’ll let you know how that works out!)
9. Creating crafts to sell and giveaway. The craft hoard gets totally out of control when you start considering how to upcycle everything you see. Something has to give and if I can make a few gifts or a few dollars, all the better!
10. Spending a weekend (or at least one night) away from home. I really need a break from my house guys. It’s not that I don’t love or appreciate this little place, but I need to be somewhere away that I don’t feel constant pressure to clean something or fix something or decorate something. I went to northern Georgia with my mom and sister in October and it was so relaxing to not have to worry about the house! I’d prefer to go stay somewhere with a fireplace and a hot tub (because the beach is too far away for just a weekend), but even a hotel will do!

I’m intentionally keeping this list somewhat short and simple because I don’t want to overwhelm myself! There are still plenty of Christmas-y things to do in the month of December to keep me extra busy.

Other December Bucket List Ideas

• Create a Christmas/Holiday Bucket List
• Pick one room in the house and deep clean it before Spring
• Plan a summer vacation — including lodging, menu ideas, and a budget
• Have an indoor picnic
• Binge watch something besides Christmas movies
• Read 5 books
• Call someone (yes call, not text) and tell them you love them
• Start a scrapbook
• Play backyard tourist and explore where you live
• Do a small home improvement project
• Start a bucket list for the entire year of 2023
• Try a new hobby

Those are just a few ideas to add to any bucket list. Hopefully, some of these ideas will motivate and inspire you to look at what you really want to do and go out and do it. And if you don’t have time for bucket list activities in December, there’s always next year!