March Bucket List: Mapped Out
Ways to break routine, make time for friends, and things to look forward to
March, the third month of the year, can sometimes feel like a stretch of time without much definition. The initial energy of January has faded, and the excitement of upcoming plans still feels just out of reach. It’s easy to fall into the same routines, letting the days pass without much thought. But instead of letting the month slip by unnoticed, it can be a chance to add something extra, small moments that break up the usual rhythm and make the month feel fuller.
March doesn’t have to feel like a filler month. Rather than waiting for something to happen, March can be a time to look around and find ways to make things feel different, even in the smallest ways. Whether it’s changing how you spend your weekends, adding something new to your daily routine, or saying yes to plans you’d usually push off, there are plenty of ways to make this month feel less like a placeholder and more like a time worth remembering.
If you're looking for ways to fill the days ahead, here’s a checklist of ideas to make March feel a little more exciting!
Week 1
Have a “Full Breakfast” Moment
Make the first week of March feel a little more special by treating yourself to a breakfast that goes beyond the usual routine. Choose a day where instead of rushing through the morning with something simple, go all in on a full spread, whether that’s a Turkish breakfast with cheeses, olives, and fresh bread, a traditional Japanese set with miso soup and grilled fish, or a classic English breakfast with eggs, beans, and toast.
I’m typically not a breakfast person but travelling to Japan changes your mind on breakfast. Having a full healthy set with rice, fish, soup just makes you think how energised you feel for the rest of the day or present you are while eating. Even if it’s just once a week or month, set aside time to enjoy a full breakfast properly, whether you’re making it at home or heading to a café that specialises in it. Brewing fresh tea, plating everything neatly, and sitting down without distractions. A full breakfast is an easy way to add a sense of occasion to the start of the month.
Step by step Japanese breakfast guide - Tiffy Cooks
The Persian Breakfast Tray
1. Nagatanien - Mizu Konro Grill 2. Izawa - Murir Rice Bowl | Orange 3. Ihoshiro - Frypan Omelette Chopstick Rest
Watch a Movie From the Year you Were Born
Add something different to your week by watching a movie from the year you were born. It’s a fun way to look back at the style, culture, and storytelling of that time, whether it’s a classic you’ve never seen or a hidden gem you’ve never heard of. You could also look up what else was popular that year, chart-topping songs, fashion trends, or major events. Watching an old movie with fresh eyes gives it a new kind of charm, whether it’s surprisingly timeless or extremely underrated.
Movies from 2002:
1. Victoria’s Secret - Satin Rose Lace-Trim Cami & Flutter Short Set 2. Tekla - Lambswool blanket 3. Beautiful by Drew - Hot Air Popcorn Maker
Going on a Walk with a Few Friends - Make it a Small Group Outing
Plan a long walk with a few friends instead of the usual one-on-one catch-up. A small group changes the energy, making conversations more dynamic and allowing the time to pass effortlessly. Choose a route that lets you walk without needing a set destination, maybe through a park, along the water, or through a neighborhood you don’t visit often.
Break up the walk by grabbing coffees, stopping at a market, or sitting down somewhere along the way. Unlike a big dinner where conversations split into smaller groups, a walk keeps everyone engaged in the same flow of conversation. It’s a simple but effective way to make time for friends, stretch your legs, and add something social to your week without needing a complicated plan.
1. Go-To - Nifty Fifty Hydrating Sunscreen 2. Lexxola - Cami | Black Leopard | Burgundy 3. Frank Green - Ceramic Reusable Bottle
Week 2
Have a ‘No Phone’ Night
Give yourself a full evening without your phone and make it feel like a treat instead of a restriction. Instead of mindlessly scrolling or half-watching a show while texting, fully immerse yourself in the moment. Set the scene, dim the lights, light a candle, and pick something that feels indulgent. Actually sitting down to enjoy without distractions, journaling with music playing in the background, or running a long bath with a book in hand.
If you’re used to having your phone within reach at all times, the silence might feel strange at first, but it’s a rare kind of quiet that lets you fully unwind, making time feel like it stretches just a little longer.
1. Piecework Puzzles - La Dolce Vita Puzzle 2. Philosophy - Lemon Custard Hydrating Shower Gel 3. Diptyque - Feu de Bois (Wood Fire)
Go to a Hotel Restaurant or Hotel Bar
There’s something oddly luxurious about spending time in a grand hotel, even when you’re not staying there. Hotels most of the time have the best rooftop bars and restaurants, the atmosphere always feels slightly removed from the everyday.
Order a tea, coffee, or a glass of wine and let yourself just sit, reading a book, writing, or simply people-watching. It’s an easy way to add a little glamour to your week without any major plans or spending more than the cost of a drink.
Tea Pairing With Cheese & Snacks
Tea has always been part of my family’s daily life. My aunties in Yunnan drink it like water, with Pu’er tea being a staple for digestion and warmth. But lately, I’ve been obsessed with the way people on TikTok, like Food Relics, take it a step further, experimenting with teas from different countries and pairing them with unexpected cheeses. Iris Law’s nighttime snack routine is another favourite of mine, she always has a little mix of something sweet, something crunchy (like chips or fruit), and a hot tea to tie it all together.
Take inspiration from both and have your own tea pairing night, either at home or in a tea house. Try matching a floral oolong with soft cheeses, a smoky lapsang souchong with aged cheddar, or sencha with fresh fruit. If you want something cosy, lean into the Iris Law approach, make a little snack plate with a mix of textures and sip something warm alongside it. A small ritual that turns an ordinary snack break into something intentional and fun to experiment with.
1. Pu’er Tea Cake 2. Mariage Freres - Yunnan Imperial 3. Maruyo Koizumi Shoten - Tokuta Tokoname Japanese Teapot
Week 3
Make a Vision Board for Spring (or for me, it’s Autumn)
As the season shifts, it’s the perfect time to step back and reassess what you want the next few months to look like. Instead of a huge, overwhelming vision board for the entire year, create one just for the coming season, something that feels fresh and specific to the mood you want to cultivate. Gather images, quotes, and ideas that excite you, whether it’s a new colour palette you’re drawn to, meals you want to cook, outfits you want to wear, or even small rituals you want to incorporate into your routine. Maybe you’re craving a slower, softer season filled with cosy nights and quiet moments, or perhaps you want this to be a time of spontaneity and new experiences. The beauty of a seasonal vision board is that it’s not about long-term pressure, it’s about capturing what inspires you right now and setting a tone for the months ahead.
1. Cannon - SELPHY QX20 Compact Photo Printer
Go to Your Absolute Favourite Restaurant
It’s so satisfying when you return to a place you truly love. Not just any good restaurant, but your absolute favourite, the one that never disappoints, where you know the menu inside and out. Maybe it’s the perfect neighborhood spot with the perfect ambiance, a sleek modern bistro, or a hidden gem that feels like your own little secret. Order exactly what you want. Get the appetiser, the extra side, the dessert. There’s a certain comfort in revisiting a place that feels familiar, yet there’s also a way to make it feel special, go at an unexpected time, sit somewhere new, or bring someone who’s never been before. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best experiences aren’t about discovering something new, but about fully indulging in what you already know you love.
1. Mille Vini - Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia
2. Beau Wine Bar - Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand
3. Nour - Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia
Week 4
Let Someone Else Plan a Night Out for You
If you’re usually the one making plans, deciding on restaurants, or choosing what to do, this week is the time to step back and let someone else take the lead. Ask a friend to plan an evening, no hints, no input, just full trust in whatever they come up with. Maybe they take you somewhere completely unexpected, a place outside your usual go-to spots, or introduce you to an activity you wouldn’t have considered. To make it even more fun, swap roles,one night, they plan for you, and another night, you do the same for them. It’s a refreshing way to break out of familiar patterns, let go of control, and experience something through someone else’s perspective. Whether it turns out to be a new favourite spot or just a fun experiment, the unpredictability is what makes it exciting.
Night picnic at the park
Themed dinner party
Cooking class
Jewellery making class
Speakeasy bar
Sake tasting
Revisit Something You Started This Month
Before March slips away, take a moment to reflect. Was there something you started but didn’t quite finish? Maybe it was a book you only got halfway through, a habit you tried to build but let slip, or a plan you meant to follow through on but kept putting off. Instead of leaving it behind, bring it back for a proper ending. Sometimes, the most satisfying thing isn’t starting something new, but actually seeing something through. Even if it’s as simple as finishing that movie you paused weeks ago or ticking off one last thing from your to-do list, there’s a quiet kind of accomplishment in wrapping things up neatly.
End the Month with a Self-Indulgent Treat
Treat yourself to something small but meaningful, something that marks the end of the month and feels like a little reward. It doesn’t have to be big, just something that you love. Maybe it’s a new candle for your space, a beautiful pastry from your favourite bakery, or even something from you new vision board. Consider it a way of acknowledging the effort you put into this month, a kind gesture for yourself that makes moving into April feel a little sweeter.
1. Loco Love - Lovers Box 2. Costa Brazil - Body Scrub 3. Osea - Undaria Algae Body Oil
March always feels like a month that could go either way, it can slip by in a blur of routine, or it can feel like a reset, a shift out of autopilot. This list is here to make sure it’s the latter. A little structure, but not too much. Enough to make sure you’re seeing friends, stepping into new spaces, and filling your time with small, memorable moments.
A month isn’t long, but it’s enough time to step into new habits, to prove to yourself that shaking things up doesn’t require an occasion. So, here’s to a March that doesn’t blend into the months before it. The kind that make a month feel lived-in rather than just passed through.
Chat soon!
Nancy Xx
I was born 2002 too!!
this was so good - I'm inspired to create my own list!