What is Intentional Living?
Intentional living is choosing to only do those things that support your ideal vision of life.
Instead of living on autopilot or letting life happen to you with intentional living you take control and responsibility of what happens in your life.
Previously, I have discussed in depth what intentional living is and the benefits of it as well as how to live intentionally. Now I am going to provide you with ten habits that those who live intentional lives do.
Resources –
What is Intentional Living (blog post)
How to live intentionally (blog post)
Intentional Living Habits
Planning ahead of time
There are no surprises or days wasted when you are living intentionally. You make space for what is important in your life and decide ahead of time how you will spend the hours of your day.
Scheduling your time is not restrictive. It is very freeing when you do it a certain way. Your calendar does not need to be filled with actions and todo’s every moment of every day. Plan your free time. Build in anything you need and want to do.
Your time is valuable. We all have the same number of hours in day. Decide how they will be used.
Setting Limits
Intentional living requires you to set limits. The limits will be around your time, what you eat, who you hang out with. More important than setting these limits is honoring them for yourself.
When your schedule says that you will spend 1 hour on a task, when the hour is finished you are finished with it.
There may be people who don’t align with your ideal life. You make the choice of who those are and be honest. Remember how valuable your time is.
Eating can be sensitive subject for some. Setting limits with your eating doesn’t have to mean you only eat the most healthy food on the planet all the time. It means you have consciously decided what you will be eating and it aligns with your ideal life.
Making clear decisions
There is no room for confusion or I don’t know when living intentionally. You can’t half way decide to do something.
Commit to making a clear decision in a reasonable time frame. This is a skill that you can build over time. To begin building the skill the next time you need to make a decision set a deadline for when you will decide. If, you’re choosing what you want to watch give yourself three minutes to make that choice. Maybe you are deciding if you want to move, give yourself one week. Then commit.
Having your own back
Once you have made those decisions have your own back about them. Now and in the future.
Not everything you do is going to be perfect or right but in that moment you did it or decided on it that choice was the best one for you and made sense. There never needs to be a qualifier following a decision.
Be your own best support system.
Purposeful reflective time
I think this should happen every day. Whether you meditate, journal, thought downloads, take a walk in nature, sit on your bed for 5 minutes or whatever works for you. Set aside time to look at your brain and the thoughts that you are having.
Self-Care
Self-care is not all about bubble baths and getting your nails done. Self-care is taking care of your whole body and isn’t always easy. It’s all the things we have mentioned on this list. Making decisions and owning them. Having your own back.
Of course, you can still take bubble baths and get your nails done but know that pleasure does not equal self-care.
Saying No
Say no to everything and anything that doesn’t fit into what your life vision is. When your calendar is already booked say no and schedule for a time that is available.
The way other people feel when you say no is none of your business. That is their own creation that you can never control.
You don’t have to eat the cake at a birthday party if you set the limit of not eating cake for yourself. You don’t have to make a last minute schedule change for anyone.
The commitments you make to yourself are so important. Say no to things that would jeopardize you keeping them.
Consume things that align with your ideals
You don’t have to watch the news. You don’t have to watch the Bachelor. You don’t have to read the new book series everyone is talking about or go watch that movie.
Our minds absorb and hold onto what you consume. If, it isn’t helping you move forward in your life then you don’t need to consume it. Try switching one show, book, or movie with something that would support your journey and see how it feels.
Not rushing out of Now
Being present and not trying to rush out of what is happening right now. The future is important and should be planned for. But you can’t get there without what is happening here and now.
Feel your emotions and take in the events. Be present for what is happening and really live it.
Taking responsibility 100% of the time
Taking responsibility 100% of the time for your life and the results you have is the biggest game changer out there.
It gives you the power to change it all.
It is also one of the hardest for people to do. We often place the blame elsewhere even without intending to. Become aware of where you aren’t taking responsibility and how that is limiting you from moving forward.
Final Note –
Living with intention is an up level in every way. This week take one of these habits and start implementing it into your own life.
Intentional living isn’t a complicated system. It will allow you to build a life that you want.
