Thimble List vs. Bucket List for Joy and Productivity
Paula Rizzo
Best-Selling Author - Listful Thinking & Listful Living | Speaker | Media Trainer for Authors | Emmy-Award Winning Video/TV Producer | Productivity Expert | LinkedIn Learning Instructor
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You know the phrase “stop and smell the roses?”
I always thought it sounded a little cheesy. But my perspective has changed and I’m starting to think that whoever thought of that phrase has the right idea.
I used to be all about bucket lists, but I want to introduce you to the “Thimble List” — AKA “the stop and smell the roses list.”?
Bucket lists are where you put your big goals, like publishing a book or visiting a national park. These are great goals and bucket lists are an amazing way to keep track of them.?
But now that summer is upon us, I’m all about focusing on gratitude — like stopping to smell the roses.?
Here’s how you can write a “Thimble List” to reduce your stress and start being more mindful.
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1) Think about where you already find joy in your life.
Is your morning coffee or tea the highlight of your day? Or walking your dog in the evening? Taking a long bath??
Brainstorm a few things in your routine that are already making you feel happy.
Then think about why those things make you happy. These are things you can add to your Thimble List, such as “notice the trees changing on my walk” and “practice gratitude for the smell of my coffee.”
2)? Keep it fresh.?
If you’re having trouble thinking about what brings you joy in your current routine, think about one moment when you felt truly happy. Really zero in on the details — the smell, the temperature, even any tastes you can remember. How can you bring elements of those things into your life??
Add something like “start looking for birds whenever I’m outside” to your Thimble List. (I’ve become obsessed with doing this by the way and love the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify my new friends.)
You’ll be surprised by how big and beautiful familiar places feel when you start trying to notice new things.??