Are you looking for ways to be intentional in your everyday life?
Does it ever feel like you’re just going through the motions of life and not really headed anywhere? Do you feel stuck on autopilot? Or do you go to bed wondering if your days are well spent?
If so, you’re not alone. I walked that path for many years … living out of habit, doing what was expected of me, and wondering why I felt so lost on the inside.
Fortunately, I learned that it doesn’t have to be that way. When you embrace intentional living, you can live on your own terms and create a life of meaning and purpose.
Here are a few simple ideas to help you begin: nine ways to be intentional every day.
How To Be Intentional
Of course, in reality, living with intention is often easier said than done.
For starters, it’s not always clear what you want out of life—after all when was the last time you asked yourself the question? I know I was in my thirties before I even started thinking about it!
And then, once you have clarity around this personal vision, it can be hard to know where to start (especially when you feel deeply out of alignment). How do you begin when there’s an ocean between where you are and where you want to be?
The answer is the same way you start everything in life.
You take a small step forward, and then another, and then another … and then with time those small steps become big steps and you’ll surprise yourself by how far you’ve come.
Keep reading for inspiration on how to take those first few steps.
Note: I should clarify that even though intentional living is forward-thinking, it’s more about the journey than the eventual outcome. No matter where you are in life, it’s the choices you make every day that define you and ultimately, bring a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
Make the intentional decision to walk your own path.
9 Ways To Be Intentional Every Day
Here are nine simple ways to be intentional every day:
Be mindful of the media you consume
Choose to be kind
Do something that brings you joy
Ask “why” before you buy
Practice active listening
Make time for self-reflection
Do something you can be proud of
Question your “have to’s”
Prioritise rest and self-care
BE MINDFUL OF THE MEDIA YOU CONSUME
Between TV, social media, your inbox and blogs like this one—odds are you consume a lot of media content every day.
This isn’t automatically a bad thing. After all, it’s a way of sharing stories, exploring new ideas and connecting with others. When we’re mindful about how and why we seek out information, it can add a lot of value to our lives.
Of course, it can also have the reverse effect too. If you’ve ever gotten lost down an Internet “rabbit hole” then you know how easy it is to waste time. Even worse, it can lead to unhealthy comparisons, feelings of diminished self-worth, overwhelm and for some, even anxiety.
The key is to be mindful with social media and all other forms of media as well. Set intentions and boundaries before you begin—ask yourself why am I doing this and how does it serve me. If you don’t have a good answer, it might be a time to do something else.
CHOOSE TO BE KIND
“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” ― Harold S. Kushner
When you choose to be kind, you’re making an intentional choice about the type of person you want to be. If you value kindness, look for ways to be kind every day (and don’t forget that self-kindness is important too!).
DO SOMETHING THAT BRINGS YOU JOY
One of the simplest ways to be intentional every day is to do something that brings you joy. It’s such a powerful means of adding value to your life but it’s so often overlooked.
Sadly, I think it’s because we’ve been conditioned to put the “hustle” before our own happiness. We feel like we need to be productive all the time—and we feel productive when we’re working towards a socially acceptable definition of success (usually money and material goods).
But what about YOUR definition of success? Is it really about getting the most done? Maybe success is more about a cup of tea and a good book?
Or whatever makes you happy … the point is finding even just a few minutes every day to do something that brings you joy can completely change how you feel about your life—but you need to be intentional about making yourself a priority.
ASK “WHY” BEFORE YOU BUY
One of the biggest “ah-ha” moments on my simple and intentional living journey was when I started thinking about money in terms of time.
Most people who work for a living trade their time for money. This means if you earn $20 per hour and you buy a $20 sweater, then you have sacrificed an hour of your life in exchange for an item of clothing.
How does that make you feel?
There’s no right or wrong answer but the point is we must be intentional with our purchases. Ask why before you buy and question how it’s adding value to your life. Then ask yourself if the expense is really worth it?
PRACTICE ACTIVE LISTENING
Intentional living is personal—what matters to me might not be important to you. Having said that, I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t place some value on their relationships.
We all want to feel connected and one way of creating connection is by intentionally practising active listening.
This is a really helpful guide on how to practise active listening but in summary, it’s about listening to understand instead of listening to respond.
You can show the people in your life that you care by making an effort to really hear what they have to say and by resisting the urge to centre their stories on yourself. Instead of thinking about how you’re going to respond, do your best to understand their point of view.
MAKE TIME FOR SELF-REFLECTION
Making time for self-reflection is absolutely essential for intentional living—it’s how you know you’re on the right track.
Take a few minutes every day to think about your values and priorities. Then ask yourself how your schedule, your spending and even your home reflect this vision.
If you’re not happy with your answers, what are one or two small things you could work on to bring yourself into alignment? Think about what you need more and less of in your life.
Finally, finish by setting your intentions for the next day. This will help you stay focused on what really matters most.
DO SOMETHING YOU CAN BE PROUD OF
At the very start of this article, I asked if you ever go to bed wondering whether your days are well spent.
If this resonated with you, a simple way of adding purpose to your every day is by intentionally doing something that you can be proud of.
It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture—it might be as simple as putting down your phone during a conversation or using a reusable coffee cup—but do something every day and then celebrate it too! For a few minutes, stop worrying about everything you’re not and instead, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
QUESTIONS YOUR “HAVE TO’S”
Is there anything you feel like you “have to” do every day?
I think that for most people, the answer is yes—and it’s often a long list! We all have things that we feel like we “have to” do … but where do these beliefs come from?
Who told you that you have to and when was the last time you questioned it?
Now obviously, there are some things we really have to do every day but don’t make assumptions without taking a closer look first.
For example, when I first started blogging, I thought that I “had to” be on Twitter. A mentor had mentioned it so I made it a priority every day even though it drove me nuts. Then one day, I asked myself why …
Because someone else told me to and now because it’s what I’ve always done.
I realised that Twitter wasn’t adding any actual value to my life or my blog and I decided to stop. I gave myself permission to do what was best for me and you can too—but the first step is to start asking questions.
PRIORITISE REST AND SELF-CARE
Finally, every single person reading this should be intentional about prioritising rest and self-care.
Why? Because if you don’t take care of yourself, then nothing else matters. You might be able to get by for a while but eventually, if you neglect your physical and mental wellbeing, you’ll run out of steam.
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