How to be More Intentional in Your Daily Life

July 18, 2023 at 7:00 AM

by 29 Intentions Meditation Studio

Notice your thoughts.

Notice your thoughts.
Don't judge them.
Don't try to change them.
Don't worry about them.
Don't try to control them (unless they're about something that needs your attention).

Get connected to your body.

It's easy to get caught up in your mind and forget about what's happening with your body. But if you want to live more intentionally, it will help to be mindful of how your body feels at all times.

When you're feeling stressed or anxious, take a moment before reacting by focusing on the breath--deeply inhale through the nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly through pursed lips if possible (this helps slow down heart rate). Or take some time out of your day and sit down somewhere quiet where no one can bother you; spend five minutes meditating on how each part of your body feels right now--are there any areas that feel tense? If so, focus on relaxing those muscles until they are loose again. Or lie down flat on the floor with arms stretched out above head and feet pointing toward opposite walls; notice any aches or pains as well as where there is tension in these areas; try switching sides so that both sides get equal attention from stretching out muscles!

Practice being mindful in each moment.

Be present. Pay attention to what is happening in the moment and focus on it, rather than letting your mind drift off into a million other places.
Think about how you feel. Are you happy? Sad? Angry? Excited? Try to pinpoint what emotions are running through your body at this very second, as they could help guide your actions later on in life (such as eating healthier when feeling depressed).
Listen carefully to what people say around you, especially if they're talking directly with someone else; this will help develop empathy by allowing us all get into someone else's shoes for a moment before jumping right back into our own lives again!

Be intentional about what you're eating and how you're eating it.

Be intentional about what you're eating and how you're eating it.
Eat slowly, savor each bite and be mindful of what you're eating.
Be aware of your emotions and how they are affecting your appetite. Are you stressed? Do you feel sad or angry? These feelings can trigger overeating as a way to cope with them, so make sure that if this happens for you, there are healthy ways for dealing with those feelings (like talking with someone or taking a walk). Remember: There's no need to eat when we're not hungry!

Take care of your mind and body by scheduling time for rest and relaxation, sleep, exercise and fun activities.

Taking care of your mind and body is important. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

Schedule time for rest and relaxation. Your body needs rest in order to function at its best, so make sure you get adequate sleep every night, as well as some down time during the day if possible. If you're feeling tired or stressed out, take a break! Even if it's just 15 minutes away from your computer screen or phone; give yourself permission to relax when needed.
Sleep enough hours each night (7-9). If possible try not sleeping with any lights on because they can disrupt melatonin production which makes it harder for us all night long our brains know when lights are on even if we don't see them ourselves (our bodies respond differently depending on whether there is light shining through our eyelids). You may also consider using blackout curtains/sheets so no light gets in either! This will help keep both yours spirits high during daylight hours too!

Set intentions for yourself before bedtime that will help you sleep more soundly throughout the night.

If you are having trouble sleeping, it may be because your mind is racing with thoughts of what needs to get done in the morning. Instead of letting your mind wander, try setting intentions for yourself before bedtime that will help you sleep more soundly throughout the night.

Set intentions for the next day. Before going to sleep each night, write down three things that you want your day to look like tomorrow and how those things would make you feel if they were accomplished by noon or early afternoon. Then set an alarm so that when it goes off in the morning (about 30 minutes before work), there's no way you can ignore it! This simple act will ensure that as soon as your feet hit floorboards in those first few moments out of bed on Monday morning--or any other day--you'll already have some positive energy flowing inside yourself thanks to these positive affirmations about what lies ahead over coffee or breakfast (or both).

Your daily life can be more intentional if you set simple intentions for yourself every day, such as meditation or self-care activities like yoga or guided meditation

If you're interested in living more intentionally, the first step is to set some simple intentions for yourself every day.

For example:

Meditation or self-care activities like yoga or guided meditation
Journaling or writing down your goals and dreams for the day (and then reviewing them at night)
Reflecting on what went well during the day, what didn't go so well, and how you can improve next time.

The idea of being intentional in your daily life can be a scary one.

It can be scary to not know what will happen next. But if you're going to live a life of intention, it's important to remember that the idea is not so much about knowing exactly what you want out of life, but rather deciding that whatever it may be--and wherever it may lead--you will go after it with all your heart and soul.

And this doesn't mean just setting goals like "I want more money" or "I want a better job." While those things are certainly part of being intentional in your daily life (and I'll talk about them later), they're not all there is; there are other ways we can put ourselves out there and take risks on behalf of our future selves, too.

If you're like me, you set new intentions at the start of every year - and then forget about them as soon as you've made your resolutions.

If you're like me, you set new intentions at the start of every year - and then forget about them as soon as you've made your resolutions. That's because setting an intention is not about controlling everything in your life or trying to force things into a neat little box. It's about getting clear on what you want from yourself, from others, and from the world around us. And once we have those answers? Well then it's much easier to make steps toward achieving them!

To be more intentional in my daily life:

I'll ask myself if there's anything I need right now (food/rest/laughter).
Then I'll ask myself how I can be present for my friends with love if they need me today (calling them up on their birthday; sending flowers).

But being more intentional doesn't have to mean making huge life changes. It just means thinking a little bit more about what's important to you and how you want to show up in the world.

For example, when I go out with my friends, I'm more likely to say "no" when someone offers me alcohol or drugs than I was before I started being intentional about my habits--and that makes me feel good! You might find that being more mindful of how much time you spend on social media helps reduce feelings of anxiety or loneliness. Or maybe deciding where and when your family eats dinner together will make them happier than they were before--and bring everyone closer together as well--which would be great!

Being intentional isn't about trying to control everything in your life or micromanaging yourself into a panic attack. It's about getting clear on what you want from yourself, from others, and from the world.

Being intentional isn't about trying to control everything in your life or micromanaging yourself into a panic attack. It's about getting clear on what you want from yourself, from others, and from the world.

It's about being present in the moment with what's happening now--and then making choices that align with those desires in order to create change over time. It means being aware of your actions and thoughts so that they reflect what matters most to you--and then acting on them accordingly (or not). Intentionality includes knowing when something isn't right for you anymore and making changes accordingly; it also means staying committed when things get tough because there are no shortcuts around hard work or struggle if we're truly going after something meaningful.

To be more intentional, try asking questions like these:

What do I want for myself, for my family and loved ones?
What is important to me?
How can I make the most of this day?
How can I improve my relationships with those around me?

What do I want for myself, for my family and loved ones? What is important to me? How can I make the most of this day? How can I improve my relationships with those around me? What do I need from myself today in order to be successful at work? Will these choices help me live longer and happier? Does it fit with my vision of wellness, happiness, success and balance? Is it right for my current season of life? Will it make me feel good about myself when I do it?

What do I want for myself, for my family and loved ones?
What is important to me?
How can I make the most of this day?
How can I improve my relationships with those around me?

Conclusion

As you can see, being intentional in your daily life doesn't have to be a daunting task. All it takes is a little bit of thoughtfulness and awareness about how you want to show up in the world.