If you dont get enough sleep start trying to create better sleep habits, such as going to bed earlier, turning off an electronic device one hour before bed, and sleeping with your phone away from the bed. Check out this article on how to shop with intention. Is it really about getting the most done? If you have any questions, please drop me an email at hello@balancethroughsimplicity.com and Id be happy to help! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There are activities and people that will drain your energy and those that will recharge your energies too.

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece completely resonates with how I am feeling and where I want to go. Regular exercise not only gets the heart pumping and works your muscles, but also helps to release chemicals called endorphins, which can elicit a positive and mood-lifting response in your body. I think that for most people, the answer is yesand its often a long list! RELATED POST: 25 Tips to Slow Down and Enjoy Life to the Fullest.

They encourage us to focus on ourselves within, rather than the world outside. Maybe success is more about a cup of tea and a good book? This wasnt how I wanted life to be, but I wasnt sure how to change it either. When your beliefs and actions are in harmony you can wake up in the morning and get out of bed ready to face the day with intention and purpose. Let me know in the commentsId love to hear from you! . Declutter the stuff that you no longer love, need or adds value in some way. Try these 20 ways to declutter your home for some decluttering projects to get you started! Relaxation doesnt have to be as involved as a full nap (even if those are necessary at times). 20 Modern Minimalist Christmas Tree, Read More 20 Lovely Minimalist Christmas Tree Ideas for A Simple, Elegant HolidayContinue, Your email address will not be published. 25 Simple Ways to Be Intentional in Your Life & Habits, 10 Powerful Vision Board Ideas to Master the Law of Attraction, 25 Frugal Living Tips to Save Money Like a Minimalist. Did you know we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping? Be intentional about scheduling time to completely relax and catch your breath. Join me if you're ready to conquer your clutter and simplify your way to a life you love! Instead of pretending to listen when your mind is in a million places, intentionally focus on the people you are talking to and tell them honestly if you cant focus and why. Types of mental clutter include negative feelings, things we have been procrastinating about that wont leave us alone, to-do lists that havent been completely checked off, and worrying about what other people think about you. We feel like we need to be productive all the timeand we feel productive when were working towards a socially acceptable definition of success (usually money and material goods). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Related Post: Why You Should Start a Journaling Habit + How to Begin. Are you living in alignment with what matters most to you? Fortunately, I learned that it doesnt have to be that way. Try these tips to limit social media use. Making time for self-reflection is absolutely essential for intentional livingits how you know youre on the right track. Of course, in reality, living with intention is often easier said than done. If so, then you know a materialistic person. A life on our terms instead of a life dictated to us by our schedule or To Do list. Yes, to-do lists are totally life-changing. It can be as small as just engaging in some deep breathing exercises in the middle of your busy day. How often do you think about your goals and what you want to achieve in life? Do things throughout the day that invest in your most important relationships. Everything you buy should have a purpose. How to Do a No-Spend Challenge to Save Money [PDF], What is Minimalism? Are they keeping you true to yourself? Prepared to be inspired, because these Christmas trees prove simplicity is stunning. What is your purpose and what makes you feel alive? You should have a specific reason for buying it. A good first step when youre feeling low or out-of-sorts, is to write everything down on paper so you can clarify and organise your thoughts and come up with an action plan. After reading this, why not go call your parent, arrange a coffee with your best friend, chat with your spouse or play with your kids? 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. Check out my post on meal planning for some inspiration. 10 Simple Minimalist Budget Tips That ACTUALLY Work! Why? Have you ever heard of the rule of three? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Before we explore how to be more intentional, its important to understand what being intentional really means. Declutter your social media accounts and unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself and focus on creating a positive social media presence for yourself. Even something small, like doing the washing up before bed, helps to make you feel good about yourself rather than feeling inadequate. Declutter your home, let go of the past and practice self-forgiveness. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. How we think about our life, the choices and decisions we make and whether we take action (or not) is all down to our mindset. WE DID THAT! If youre feeling angry, upset, anxious or overwhelmed, give some thought to what triggered these feelings, how theyre affecting you and what you can do to make them better. If life is busy and you are feeling rushed, make changes to your schedule. Note: I should clarify that even though intentional living is forward-thinking, its more about the journey than the eventual outcome. Speaking of energy, we only have a certain allotment of emotional energy to give to the people and activities around us. Its way too easy to take these people for granted and assume they will always be there. To fully embrace an intentional life, explore ways to nurture a positive, healthy mindset and declutter your mind to find clarity and focus. Before we dive into todays list, lets take a moment to talk about what it means to be intentional. As a busy person, you might think that your goal is just to get through the day but theres so much more you can do! Identify whats working and whats not and make changes where they need to be made. Even worse, it can lead to unhealthy comparisons, feelings of diminished self-worth, overwhelm and for some, even anxiety. In simple terms, living intentionally means deciding what you want from life and going for it! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A lot of people spend their entire lives going through the motions without really thinking about what they want out of life. What will success look like for you? You may find yourself asking, How can I be more intentional?. Everyone needs to go shopping sometimes and its lovely to get new things. More importantly, its about what getting organised can give you.

Do you love setting big goals for yourself and crossing them off the list when you achieve them? These companies have literally used operant conditioning to train us to look at our phones constantly its like we are hooked on waiting for the next text or email to ping us at any moment. Instead of chasing our tails and struggling with life in the fast lane, were seeking out a life of purpose, direction, clarity, peace and joy instead. Who told you that you have to and when was the last time you questioned it? Be intentional about your priorities and goals by checking out this post on how to set goals and achieve them. It doesnt help anyone, least of all you if you bite off more than you can chew and take on too many projects or demands to handle and exhaust yourself. Archetypal examples of this are included in everything from religion (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to the US Declaration of Independence on Human Rights (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness). Id lost sight of what I wanted out of life, what was truly and deeply important to me and what made life meaningful and purposeful. Ive recently begun to explore minimalism and intentional living, about a year ago. The solution is to let go. thank you. Why do you get out of bed each morning? In fact, I was too busy running to and fro, juggling kids and work and snatching sleep and energy bars whenever I could. A growing body of scientific evidence has shown that clutter can cause increased cortisol levels basically, your body releases a stress hormone in response to clutter! Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aa90768ae1cec59dcf87405d72a43932" );document.getElementById("d54ea6cecc").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Does it ever feel like youre just going through the motions of life and not really headed anywhere? Creating a calm and productive routine will set the tone for your entire day. Is there something in your life that is eating away at your calm resolve? Active listening is important for you and for the other person. how to strengthen your relationship with your partner, Mindful questions for a mid-week check in, How to create an intentional morning routine, Essential mindsets to help you get more out of life. When you have clear values and a purpose you can better decide how to spend your time, money, and energy. Its such a powerful means of adding value to your life but its so often overlooked. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Here are some other popular posts on getting organised: Sometimes I need to step away and take a break from social media. Decide to take more exercise, even if its just regular walks with the dog or the kids. For a few minutes, stop worrying about everything youre not and instead, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. In 2019 my family extreme decluttered our entire home down to eight suitcases and moved to Europe which was a pretty big deal since I used to be a hoarder! READ MORE: 10 Benefits of Minimalism That May Surprise You (in a Good Way!). Surprise them with a kind word, a hug, or a thoughtful gift. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. That means that you will spend around 26 years of your life catching your zs! This is often easier said than done and may take time to work towards. Clutter isnt just the stuff in your closet, its anything that gets between you and the life that you want to be living., READ MORE: 70 Simple Living Quotes to Embrace the Joy of Slowing Down. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. ), 70 Simple Living Quotes to Embrace the Joy of Slowing Down, my family extreme decluttered our entire home, 25 Tips to Slow Down and Enjoy Life to the Fullest, saying no to something that stresses you out, 10 Minimalist Mom YouTube Channels That Will Inspire You to Simplify, Do You Want Want a Minimalist Aesthetic or Lifestyle? I let go of clutter, kept out stuff and made boundaries to protect the things that were far more important to be just stuffing in my life. This doesnt mean that an intentional life is a perfect lifebut it is a purposeful life. You might also set specific times that you can use your smartphone during the day and then thats it after you are done (set a timer so you dont forget). Its arguably our most limited resource and also perhaps the one that we often waste or mis-use the most. Whether its being intentional with your time, relationships, self-care, finances, priorities or anything else that makes up your life, I hope you find these ideas helpful in creating a life that truly supports you (instead of just running you into the ground!). Create a solid and consistent morning and evening routine for yourself (and your family). Youll have more energy, feel better and be more able to enjoy a fuller, happier life. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. You can keep a bullet journal for your to-do lists or even just jot it down in your phones notes. Do you need more emotional support today? If you have made good progress on your journey to living intentionally, congratulations! If you want to be intentional your mind can also benefit from a good decluttering. Intentional living is personalwhat matters to me might not be important to you.

There are still sacrifices and trade-offs but when you live with intention you know what youre giving up and why. This budget planner was created based on the budgeting tools and techniques that my family used to: track daily and monthly expenses notice and REDUCE patterns of overspending pay off $250,000 of debt afford an all-cash, Read More Download This FREE Printable Budget Planner for 2022 [PDF]Continue, Do you know someone who always wants more? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you dont want to schedule every hour of your day, at least be intentional and check in with yourself throughout the day. Visual clutter is easy to spot, but mental clutter is trickier. There are those who say that three is a magical number in fact, thats why we have idioms like the third times the charm. One of the simplest ways to be intentional every day is to do something that brings you joy. Then one day, I asked myself why . Consuming social media mindfully means Im aware of what adds value to my life and that, perhaps more importantly, Im aware of when my scrolling is negatively impacting my mindset, my time or my self-worth. STEP 1: Think of three times when you felt truly alive and explore these memories in your journal. Dont treat no like its a dirty word remember, every no to one thing is also a yes to something else. Humans are curious creatures and its easy for us to get sucked into drama channels or be envious of influencers apparently perfect lifestyles, but what good does it really do us? It can be hard to detach your fantasy self from your true self, but when you know your values then your path and decisions, both big and small, will come clearer to you. Download This FREE Printable Budget Planner for 2022 [PDF], 10 Characteristics of a Materialistic Person (and WHY Theyre Unhappy! Dont worry about what anyone else is doing in their life, focus on your own and making it the best life it can be. When I first began decluttering and simplifying my own life, I didnt have it in mind to be intentional. Thank you! Priorities and goals help us find clarity for what we want out of life. Being intentional means living life on purpose. So too is our mind. Relationships matter though and to be strong they need work. Try them out and see how they work for you! Think about what you say, what you buy, and what you spend time doing. )Continue, These modern minimalist Christmas tree ideas will fill your holiday with maximum delight! If you would never dream of saying the things you say to yourself to others because they are so mean-spirited and nasty, then you need to work on your self-talk. I like to know whats going on in other peoples lives but I also like to work on my own life. Ive only just found yours and find it very relevant to my journey. And you have shared simple things that you can do to transition to an intentional lifestyle. Have you ever mindlessly scarfed down an entire meal without paying attention to it or actually tasting it? If you plan, prepare and organise your day or life a little then you can create more time, more calm and ease, more freedom, less stress and less going around in circles. I realised that Twitter wasnt adding any actual value to my life or my blog and I decided to stop. (Find out now! Its difficult to focus when there are SO MANY THINGS crying for your attention in your visual field. Keep reading for inspiration on how to take those first few steps. Its not easy, but with practice, you can get better at releasing everything that holds you back. It is the sum of these small decisions that shapes the bigger picture of your life. Minimalism changed my life and I believe it can change yours as well. Slow down and give yourself time to think about what people are saying and how you are going to respond to it. Intentional living is a lifestyle that encourages us to define our priorities, get clear on what we want from life and live each day in alignment with these priorities. Instead, just be intentional about how you use your body and what you put into it. The first step is knowing what you wantwhat are your values, dreams, priorities and goals? To be intentional you need to start by getting clear about your aspirations and goals. In fact, when you manifest your dreams, you will begin to live intentionally. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aebab22b4c713676aa6b725c17df2ca8" );document.getElementById("f9101d43bc").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Do this without ego and you will always have a clear path to a better you. However, be intentional about what you spend your money on. When life gets busy, its easy to take the relationships we have with others for granted. Own them and try to do something about them. This is also a way to make sure that you accomplish things that are important. Look to a balance between recharging and giving. Being intentional also means being honest with yourself and others and that can mean saying no, even sometimes to people you love. We all know the importance of looking after ourselves, keeping fit and eating healthily. Instead of sitting back and allowing things to happen to you passively, you set your sights on a specific outcome and do things to make it happen. I know it can be hard to do when youre busy but here are some practical self-care tips (find out how I learned to practice self-care without it feeling like something else on my to-do list!). Youve probably heard already that exercise is good, not only for physical health but also for mental health. Living intentionally naturally coincides with creating the life you want. Be intentional about your relationships. Getting enough sleep means you will feel less tired in the morning and you will have the energy you need for a productive day! This is the very attitude that creates emotional space in close relationships. When you choose to be kind, youre making an intentional choice about the type of person you want to be. For some people its landing the job they always wanted, for others, its becoming financially free, and others just want to find true love. I use it for my job, for my blog, and sometimes personally but there comes a point where I feel ready for a break. It is so much better to live an authentic life and tell people no than to misrepresent yourself and agree to something only to regret it later. Take a few minutes every day to think about your values and priorities. Will you join them? On days when you are busy or low on energy, you might need to drop things off your to-do list. A mentor had mentioned it so I made it a priority every day even though it drove me nuts. There are so many ways to be intentional in your everyday life, but lets start with these simple living ideas to get you started. This isnt a hard or difficult process when you gain clarity as to your motivations in leading a life you love. DIY Minimalist Snowman Turns Back into IKEA Baskets After Christmas!

Do you feel stuck on autopilot? Invest in yourself and the people you love and the rest will naturally fall into place. And of course, the final step is to follow through with intentional action! This is where I follow my passion to help you declutter, simplify and organise your home and life. If you commit to true intentional living, you can achieve your dreams, make your goals a reality, and live a life of purpose. Well,today I am going to show you how to create an adorable minimalist snowman using IKEA nesting baskets. The key is to be mindful with social media and all other forms of media as well. But, you dont have to run the marathon or even commit to a gym membership if its not realistic! Copyright 2022 BALANCE THROUGH SIMPLICITY. I just knew that my busy life and busy home was making my body and brain feel overwhelmed. Then ask yourself if the expense is really worth it? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Pay attention to the food you buy and feed your family. Here are some ideas on how to be intentional every day. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Brainstorm ideas. Categories Intentional Living, Simple Living. When your values are clear to you,making decisions becomes easier. Quick note: For a free printable to help you define your priorities, pop your details in the box below. This will help you stay focused on what really matters most. Much of our days are spent navigating our outer environments but its whats happening on the inside (our inner environments) thats important for a meaningful, intentional life. Just to re-cap on what weve covered, here are 14 ways to be intentional every day. . I was being pushed and pulled in different directions by life and I felt I was increasingly losing my way. In many of my posts or if you follow me on Instagram, I like to share journal prompts, thoughts for the day or quotes on being intentional. This clear structure will help you create time for yourself, time for family and time for your priorities. One of the ideas we looked at on how to be intentional every day was to explore YOUR priorities, not just the priorities shouting loud from your To Do list. One way to stay constantly mindful and motivated is to set small goals that you know you can accomplish and then do them. An Intentional Living Journaling Exercise, How to Be Happy With What You Have + Stop Wanting More, helpful guide on how to practise active listening, Why You Should Start a Journaling Habit + How to Begin, how to let go of the little things that bother you, 7 Questions to Inspire Intentional Living, 4 Practical Steps To Creating An Intentional Life, How Defining My Core Values Changed My Life, 4 Creative Exercises to Inspire Intentional Living, How Mindful Spending Helps You Live a Life You Love, How Minimalism Saves Money and Improved My Financial Life, 17 Heart-Centred Ways to Simplify Your Life. Anticipate the goodness in your day and attract it to you. Theres no right or wrong answer but the point is we must be intentional with our purchases. Develop some daily self-care habits and explore ways to declutter your mind regularly. And this creates space for a more intentional life. Even criticism can be offered in a positive way: Instead of being so harsh and critical of yourself, imagine how you would speak to your best friend and continue to give yourself the same care and courtesy. I believe that getting organised truly supports an intentional life. If you make everything a top priority then you are going to burn yourself out trying to accomplish too much. It sounds counterintuitive, but when you realize that not every issue requires immediate attention you can put more effort and energy into things that will make a big impact. Instead, be intentional about creating some time for yourself and youll be a better and stronger person because of it, much more able to withstand the rigours of daily life and ready for new opportunities when they come your way! Dont forget, use the free worksheet available with this article if you need to clarify your priorities. Having a clear framework for your day will help start and end your day on the right note, however busy youve been in between. After all, its a way of sharing stories, exploring new ideas and connecting with others. It completely resonates with who I am,who I want to be,where I want to be and how I can create a lifestyle of purpose! The answer is the same way you start everything in life. Thank you for sharing. Place the really important priorities in your routine so that you know you will do them. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. That their lives just look SO PERFECT that it makes you feel resentful, negative, and judgmental, either towards them or towards yourself? If your space is cluttered your mind and body may become restless. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Be comfortable saying no to something that stresses you out or you dont have time to do. Every day strive to be intentional with your words. Dont buy things or waste your money on stuff that you dont really need or want that will just drain your bank account and clutter your cupboards. If youd like to explore ways to be intentional and how to get the most out of your life, here are some resources which you might find helpful: As I mentioned above, words are powerful things. If an intentional life speaks to your heart then this article can suggest some simple ways to be intentional every day. Therefore, to be intentional one must eat intentionally. Try my free 30-day Gratitude Challengeto create a consistent, uplifting gratitude practice. Then ask yourself how your schedule, your spending and even your home reflect this vision. Scientifically, the brain recalls items and events better when they happen in threes, which may explain why so many ideas are expressed in threes. After all, taking action is a key part of living with intention! Then, use that feeling of success to propel you throughout your day and accomplish more tasks. Either what youve paid for it in the first place or in terms of how you spend your time and energy looking after it. Ask why before you buy and question how its adding value to your life. Check out my post on how to do a brain dump to declutter your mind for some handy help with this. Dont give so much of yourself away that you dont have any left at the end of the day.