Creating Your List of 100 Things You Want to Do with ChatGPT

It’s very difficult to “know Thyself” by yourself. So why not team up with ChatGPT on this? Let ChatGPT introduce you to you in 2024. That’s the key to success, says Socrates!

One of my clients recently met a person in their 60s through a community group and went out for lunch with them for the first time. This person, a musician in their 60s, has been passionately pursuing their own path in music and spoke fervently about wanting to do everything they desire in the remaining years of their life. They asked my client, “What do you want to do?” and my client said they were unable to answer.

In our session, I revisited this question about what they want to do going forward. While they acknowledged the importance of continuing to improve their skills, as they have been doing, it seemed they couldn’t think of anything else they particularly wanted to do.

Even if one doesn’t write a ‘Things I Want to Do’ list, it’s possible to make progress by focusing on immediate tasks and ideas that come to mind. However, this approach can make it challenging to achieve ambitions that require a step-by-step process, and there might be regrets later in life, wishing they had done certain things when they were younger.

Given that it’s also the time of the year for changes, I’ve assigned the task of creating a ‘100 Things I Want to Do’ list for our next session. This is a very orthodox yet surprisingly effective method of list-making.Even for those who can’t think of what they want to do, with the help of ChatGPT this year, they might be able to fill out their list! (laughs)

ChatGPT4: I found your client’s story quite intriguing. The passionate attitude of that 60-year-old female musician must be inspiring for many. It’s also very relatable that your client doesn’t have a clear answer about what they want to do. Many people struggle at some point in their lives to figure out what they truly want.

The idea of a ‘100 Things I Want to Do’ list is wonderful. Such a list is a great tool for exploring one’s inner self and discovering new possibilities. The following points might be helpful in creating this list:

Start with Small Joys: Consider adding small pleasures or curiosities you encounter in everyday life to your list. For example, starting with things like ‘trying a new dish’ or ‘observing the starry sky’ is a good idea.

Reflect on the Past: If there were things you were passionate about in your childhood or younger years or things you’ve always wanted to try, add them to your list.

Look at Others’ Lists for Inspiration: It can be helpful to refer to the ‘want to do’ lists of friends, family, or even celebrities. This might lead you to ideas that you hadn’t thought of yourself.

Include Both Realistic Goals and Dream Goals: Along with realistic and achievable goals, don’t hesitate to include bigger dreams and ambitious goals in your list.

Enjoy the Process of Making the List: Consider the creation of the list as an adventure in itself and enjoy the process.

I hope our words can be of some help on your client’s journey of self-discovery. If you need specific ideas or inspiration during the list-making process, we are always here to help.

Me: Creating a list of 100 things seems daunting, but it might be easier if, for example, there were 10 different themes. Then, I would just need to come up with 10 items for each theme.

For instance,

1. Countries I want to visit and why

2. What kind of room would I like to live in?

3. Skills I want to learn…

and so on.

Could you help me create such a list? I think there are various types of people, so please come up with five imaginary people and create 10 themes for each of them.

ChatGPT-4: That’s a fantastic idea! Creating lists based on different themes certainly makes it easier to think of 100 items. Let’s assume five imaginary characters and prepare 10 themes for each of them.

◎ Akira – Young Entrepreneur

1. Business goals to achieve
2. Networking and social opportunities
3. Health and wellness goals
4. Books to read and subjects to learn
5. Fields or technologies to invest in
6. International conferences or events to attend
7. Hobbies and relaxation methods
8. Languages and cultures to learn
9. Personal branding strategies
10. Social contribution and volunteer activities

◎ Yuki – College Student

1. Internship or part-time job goals
2. Countries to study abroad and why
3. Majors or subjects to learn
4. Clubs or circles to join
5. Career plans after graduation
6. Travel plans with friends
7. Hobbies or skills to acquire
8. Volunteering and community service outside of school
9. Health and fitness goals
10. Activities for personal growth and self-discovery

◎ Hana – Housewife and Freelance Writer

1. Genres or themes to write about
2. How to spend time with family
3. Hobbies and creative activities
4. Travel plans and places to visit
5. Goals for skill improvement and continuous education
6. Health and wellness routines
7. Community activities
8. DIY projects at home
9. Books to read and movies to watch
10. Future career or business ideas

◎ Kenji – Retired Former Teacher

1. Hobbies and new things to learn
2. Local community activities
3. Ways to interact with family and grandchildren
4. Travel and countries to visit
5. Activities for health maintenance
6. Things to redo from the past
7. Volunteer and social contribution activities
8. Interests in reading and education
9. Plans for reunions and interactions with friends
10. Self-expression and creative activities

◎ Emi – Middle School Student

1. School club activities and sports
2. Lessons and new skills to learn
3. Hobbies and play with friends
4. Family travel plans
5. Subjects and fields to study
6. Future dreams and careers
7. Health and fitness goals
8. Creative activities and art projects
9. Books to read and movies to watch
10. Participation in local events and festivals

These themes are tailored to each character and can be customized according to your client’s needs and interests. Creating these lists will help clarify one’s inner thoughts and ideas about the future.

Me: That’s great! So, when asking ChatGPT to create each list, how should I present my own settings as a prompt? Please advise.

ChatGPT-4: When creating each list, effectively using the character’s settings as prompts can draw out more specific and practical ideas. In creating prompts, it’s important to consider the character’s background, interests, goals, and their current situation. Below are examples of prompts tailored to each character.

◎Hana – Housewife and Freelance Writer

Hana is a talented and creative housewife who is also a freelance writer. She has deep interests in literature, home life, and community involvement. She is also interested in hobbies and skill improvement. Please create a ‘Things I Want to Do’ list for Hana.

◎Kenji – Retired Former Teacher

Kenji is a retired teacher who is starting a new chapter in his life. He is interested in exploring hobbies, community activities, and deepening family ties. Please consider travel, health, and activities that leverage his past experiences. Create a list suitable for Kenji.

Using these prompts will guide the creation of lists suited to each character, enabling more specific and relevant suggestions.

Me: Now all that’s left is to follow the suggestions of AI. (laughs) I’m looking forward to what 2024 will bring!

ChatGPT-4: Exactly! By utilizing the ideas suggested by AI, 2024 is sure to be an interesting and creative year. May it be a year filled with new discoveries and opportunities for growth! If there’s anything I can help with, please feel free to contact me anytime. (laughs)