The most memorable summer I ever had was the summer before high school. My middle school best friend and I, knowing we would soon be split up, made a summer bucket list. It was 2012, so it contained silly, nostalgic activities like “wear a fake moustache in public” and “make melted crayon art.” Despite the cringey, Tumblr-inspired clichés, I still remember that summer in vivid detail. Not because we were doing anything particularly inventive, but because everything was new to us.
Psychology tells us that, thanks to the “novelty effect,” new experiences give our brains a dose of dopamine, boosting mood and memory. This is where it gets interesting: the more new experiences you have, the slower time feels. That’s why childhood felt so long. And now, a new month comes, and we say, “I can’t believe it’s already June… July…” on repeat. As our lives get more and more routine, we encounter fewer new experiences, and time passes by without us noticing it.
That’s why I’m building in ways to shake myself back into the present and give myself gentle opportunities for newness. I know my life is busy, and any huge attempt to change it would probably go ignored. So, instead, I’m introducing a “monthly 10” list—a low-stakes ritual to make my summer feel more dynamic and, most of all, memorable.
What is a “monthly 10” list?
Imagine a bucket list with even lower stakes. A monthly 10 list is simply a list of 10 things you want to do before the end of the month. The idea comes from writer Julianna Salguero, who originated the concept in a Substack titled “you need to be making monthly 10 lists.” “I’ve been writing little intention lists for a few years now, and the 10 list is the latest iteration of it,” she said.
Instead of setting goals for the whole summer (or the entire year), you just have to think ahead to the next four weeks. It’s a to-do list you don’t have to dread, one that feels grounded but still whimsical. “I think there’s so much pressure around goals and to-do lists, and I don’t respond well to that kind of motivation,” Salguero said.
Ten is a manageable number, but it’s also a challenge. However, the idea isn’t to fill your list with lofty goals that you’ll struggle to achieve in a month. Your list can consist of small things like cooking a new recipe, finishing a book, or trying a certain restaurant. It’s simply a tool to feel more present and invite unexpected moments of joy into your daily life.
How a monthly 10 list works
A summer bucket list worked for me when I was thirteen because I had nothing to do except what was on it. Now, as an adult, I don’t need another lengthy goals list languishing in my Notes app, never to be looked at again. I have figured out that segmenting my personal goals into bite-sized chunks makes me more likely to stick to them. For example, I recently made a creative bucket list to make sure I stick to my creative hobbies this summer. And now I’m introducing the monthly 10 list to address my desire for novelty in a manageable way.
Unlike a vague intention like “be more spontaneous,” the monthly 10 list gamifies your goals and makes them feel more achievable. Thanks to the time-bound nature of a month, you can’t just forget about the list until another summer has slipped by. And the limited number means you can’t overreach. This list is the perfect blend of structure and play—and the best part is, there’s no pressure. Salguero specifies that your monthly 10 list shouldn’t come with consequences if you don’t check everything off.
“A 10 list isn’t supposed to be punishing,” Salguero said. “It’s a reminder of, hey, here’s what’s important to me, here are little moments I can find in my day, here’s what makes me feel good.” Her “zero consequences” caveat keeps the challenge fun and takes the pressure off. “It reminds me that trying is the real goal, and baby steps get you where you’re going in your own time,” she added.
If you don’t achieve something in one month, add it to the next month or reevaluate what it says about your priorities or your goals. “Life is not homework—nobody should be grading you on it (including you),” she said. “If making a 10 list reminds you of that, then my job is done.”
How to make a monthly 10 list
Your monthly 10 list should motivate you, not stress you out. Salguero jots hers down in her Notes app. I’ve been doing the same, then pinning the note to my homescreen so I always see it. That way, I can look through my list every day and find ways to make those ideas happen. If you want something more tangible, you could also write your monthly 10 list in your journal or on a notepad on your fridge. You could even print out a laminated version if you want to be fancy. Whatever you choose, make sure you can revisit your list often to check in and remember what your goals are.
As for what to put on your 10 list, I like to choose a mix of high- and low-effort activities. My lists often consist of things I’ve been putting off, side quests I’ve been talking about but not doing, hobbies I want to try, or places I want to go.
Salguero also mixes it up by using the monthly 10 list as an invitation to the universe. “I put things I can’t quite control in there,” she said—like seeing a ladybug or waving at a baby. When it happens, “It feels like a wink from the beyond.”
The best part is that it trains your mind to seek new experiences instead of just ruminating on familiar routines or worries. “I had ‘run through a field’ on my list for April. I went out of my way to complete it,” Salguero said. “Often, the tasks that queue up my brain are things like ‘I have to do laundry later,’ so it’s nice to replace a few of those with: I really need to find a nice field to run in soon.”
For me, monthly 10 lists are also a chance to further document my summer. At the end of the month, I’m using my list as a prompt to journal on: How did the list change my month? Did it surprise me? I’ve even started to make scrapbook pages using little trophies from the things I’ve done: a ticket stub, an event wristband, a museum brochure. All of it is proof that I did something I said I would. Something worth remembering.
Ideas for your monthly 10 list
- Start a new hobby
- Try a new restaurant or coffee shop
- Have a picnic
- Go to a museum or art gallery
- Take a class
- Buy something from the farmers market
- Write a letter
- Open all the windows
- See a movie in theaters
- Wake up early and watch the sunrise
- Host a girls’ night
- Read a new book you’re excited about
- Make something with your hands
- Go on a walk without headphones
- Make a fun coffee or matcha drink at home
- Go out dancing
- Try a new recipe
- Meet a friend for breakfast instead of drinks
- Touch grass
- Go to a concert
- Donate some clothes
- Call a loved one you haven’t talked to in a while
- Buy yourself flowers
Langa Chinyoka, Contributing Writer
Langa is a Los Angeles-based writer and strategist. She is currently an editor and content strategist at a marketing agency. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, British Vogue, Highsnobiety, Eyeswoon, Camille Styles, The Good Trade, and more.
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