- Being intentional means making decisions based on the things you value and the goals you want to achieve rather than acting impulsively.
- Setting specific and measurable goals, establishing daily routines, and doing activities that align with your passions are all ways to be more intentional.
- Living intentionally reduces stress, improves your focus, and helps you achieve want you want so you feel more present and in control of your life.
Ways to Be Intentional Every Day
Write out your values and passions in life. Ask yourself what you think is most important in your life and determine your personal values. Journal about what you want to get out of life, how you picture your relationships, what career path you want to follow, and what makes you feel fulfilled. Once you understand what you enjoy and want out of life, you can start making decisions toward those intentions. Other questions to ask yourself for living intentionally may be about what makes you feel energized, what habits you like, and what you want from your private and work relationships.
Set measurable goals to work toward. Rather than making vague statements about what you want to achieve, create specific goals that align with your passions. Choose a goal where you can easily track your objectives and progress so you know what steps you need to take and feel motivated to complete them. When you’re given new opportunities in life, ask yourself if they’ll help you reach your goal before making your decision. When opportunities come up in your life that bring you closer to your goal, don’t be afraid to go for them even if it wasn’t how you originally planned to achieve them.
Put your aspirations on a vision board. A vision board helps you visualize your intentions and the goals that you want to achieve. To make your vision board, make a collage with pictures of what you want to achieve, images that inspire you, and quotes that are meaningful to you so you feel motivated to work towards your goals. You may focus on family, career, or hobbies. Some inspirational quotes about being intentional to get your vision board started include: “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs “How you spend your days is how you spend your life.” – Annie Dillard
Establish a daily ritual. Rather than letting the day go by without a plan, try to create a routine to follow so you feel more in control of your life. Start your day off with a morning routine, like starting with a workout, reading a book, or a quick meditation. Plan out what you’re going to do throughout the day. Follow the same routine each night, like stretching, journaling, or turning off your phone before bedtime so you end your night on a relaxing note. Your routine doesn’t have to be rigid, so be flexible if there’s something you want to do that interferes with your normal structure.
Clarify your intentions every day. Every morning right before you get up, set your intention for the day and what you want to achieve. Take a moment to check in with how you’re feeling and how you want to approach the activities you have planned. State your intention out loud or write it down so it’s easier for you to follow through. Your daily intention could be treating others with kindness, being present when you’re with friends, treating yourself with respect, maintaining an open mind, or approaching the day with positivity. At the end of the day, reflect on how your intention, how it affected you, and how you can continue working toward it.
Prioritize doing things that align with your passions. Rather than doing something just because other people are doing it, focus on yourself and intentionally do what makes you happy first. Before doing anything, ask yourself if it’s something that you’re excited about and if it will help you achieve the goals that you’ve set. If you’re not feeling psyched about the activity, find something that’s more engaging and feels like it gives you purpose.
Build your connections with others. Whether it’s with friends, family members, coworkers, or total strangers, foster your relationships with the people that bring you joy or help you connect with your goals. The people you surround yourself with can help shape you and give you a sense of purpose, so be sure to spend time developing those positive connections. Look for community groups or classes for new hobbies that you want to try or to find people who have the same interests as you. If you feel like people you spend time with are negative or are holding you back from your goals, limit how much time you spend with them.
Show gratitude. Recognize the things that you’re thankful for and what you couldn’t achieve on your own. Practice gratitude by telling others how thankful you are for them and reflecting on how they’ve helped pave the way toward your goals and intentions. Small things like saying thank you and showing up for them when they need support are great ways to show that you’re grateful. Don’t forget to show yourself some gratitude as well. Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve been able to accomplish and how proud you are of yourself.
Take a moment to notice the world around you. As you’re going throughout your day, pause and just pay attention to your surroundings. Be present in the moment and recognize what you’re feeling with all 5 of your senses. Even just a few seconds to step away from any busyness and background noise to take in what’s happening around you can make your actions more intentional. For example, if you’re relaxing at the park, take a moment to take in the sights and sounds of nature, feel the breeze, and take in the smell of fresh-cut grass.
Maintain a positive mindset. As you’re going throughout your day, try to avoid negative energy and just stay positive about a situation. Look on the bright side and expect the best from a situation so you stay motivated toward the goals you’ve set. Having the intention of being positive and happy already can make you feel invigorated and ready to achieve your goals.
Check in on your emotions throughout the day. As you’re going through a daily routine, make a second to check in with yourself and how you’re feeling. Look at the activities that you’ve done so far and how they’ve impacted your emotions throughout the day so you can readjust and stay focused on the goals and intentions you set.
Declutter your space. Decluttering the things that you don’t want or need in your home can make you more intentional with the items you buy or keep. As you’re going through items in your home, ask yourself if they’re things you truly need or want in your life, or if they serve you any purpose. If you don’t connect with an item like you used to, then don’t be afraid to throw it away or donate it to a good home. Keeping your home free of clutter will also help you free up space for things that bring you joy.
Be more mindful about using social media. Rather than going on social media whenever you feel bored, try to limit your usage if you’re not actively posting or creating content. Don’t feel like you need to spend time on social media sites just because other people are. Stay on the sites that you enjoy and take breaks so you can focus on the activities that can help you grow. Set limits on social media apps on your devices so you’re less likely to spend time on them.
Spend money more deliberately. Before you purchase something, determine if spending the extra money is worth the experience that you’re getting. Be aware of what you’re buying and where your extra money is going so you can easily track if you’re buying things that actually bring you joy. Prepare a budget so you’re able to prioritize what you’re spending money on and where you can save.
Stop comparing yourself to others. When you compare yourself or your abilities to another person, it may make you feel like you’re not as talented as you actually are. Rather than worrying about how you compare to someone else, focus on how it makes you feel knowing that you’re working towards the goals you want. As long as you’re proud of yourself and you’re seeing progress, then continue doing what you love and stop making comparisons.
What does being intentional mean?
Being intentional is making choices that reflect your values and beliefs. Living intentionally means taking control of your life and choosing to do things that have a positive effect on you. Rather than letting life pass by or acting on impulse, being intentional means you consider what’s best for you before making a decision. Being intentional doesn’t mean shying away from things where you may fail. Instead, learn from your mistakes and continue making the best of the situation.
Benefits of Being Intentional
It reduces stress. Taking time to focus on what you like doing and setting intentions around your life makes you feel like you’re more in control. Because you’re not feeling as much pressure to participate in things just because others are doing them, living intentionally helps you be more mindful of your choices. You also aren’t filling up your schedule with activities you don’t enjoy, so you have more time to relax and destress.
It helps you prioritize what’s important to you. When you set intentions and goals, you’re more focused on activities and relationships that will help move you forward. As you continue working towards your goals, you’ll be better about establishing boundaries around what you do or do not enjoy. That way, it’ll be a lot easier to say no to activities you don’t like without feeling pressured into them.
It makes you more feel present. As you’re setting intentions, you become more focused on how you’re feeling and what you need from a situation. With your new awareness, you’ll feel a lot more focused on the people you’re spending time with and the activities you’re doing because you’re truly passionate about them.
It improves your focus. Because being intentional means setting up plans to work toward your goals, you’re more likely to stay involved and continue progressing. As you discover and learn what you want to do and what your intentions are moving forward, you’ll feel like you’re more productive and goal-oriented.
It makes you feel more optimistic. Picturing your best possible life and setting intentions and goals to achieve it makes your outlook a whole lot brighter. Because you know what you value and what you’re passionate about, you’re more willing to chase those feelings and expect the best from any situation.
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