5 Practical Ways to Embrace Intentional Living

Have you ever caught yourself overwhelmed by how busy life can be? Or even overwhelmed with the thought of intentional living being out of reach?

The never ending to do lists and outside noise can leave us feeling lost or unfocused and even worse, can leave us feeling like we wished we had a different life, more things, or more money.

Today’s post is all about how to utilize intentional living and remove the hustle and bustle from your life.

Though that might sound impossible because there are obligations we can’t miss like a busy work schedule or sports/recreation for kids but there is a mindset shift we can make that will allow us to practice intentional living.

Intentional living is a purposeful way of life that prioritizes our values and true priorities over things and stress. When you think of an intentional lifestyle, you should think about your values, goals, and small meaningful actions that bring you true joy.

By practicing intentional living, you will feel a greater sense of fulfillment, purpose, reduced stress, and clarity.

Today’s post is all about intentional living and how to live with purpose!

Looking for similar content? Check out our other posts!

• Daily Devotionals: How To Start Your Morning With God
• 7 Essential Biblical Principles for Money Management
• Best Christian Fitness Tips

5 Tips for Intentional Living

1. Figure out your priorities and values

If you are confused on what intentional living is, you might not have a clue what your priorities and values actually are.

This might sound simple but if your initial thought is something about your family being your main priority but you frequently put social media or work ahead of your children/husband, then you aren’t aligning your actions with your priorities.

Figuring out your personal values/priorities is the foundation to an intentional lifestyle.

An example of a value I hold strong is health and I practice this value by ensuring my family has healthy meals ready at dinner time. Another example is showing a strong value of gratitude towards my husband by helping make his life easier through handling household chores while he works.

If you are still confused on how to practice live with purpose, try journaling your thoughts and discussing this topic with family and close friends to gain clarity!

2. Set clear, achievable goals

If you are struggling on how to live with purpose, try setting goals that align with the lifestyle you are trying to achieve!

If you want to enjoy more small moments, set a goal to spend 15-30 minutes quietly outside everyday just observing. Or if you are looking to practice more gratitude, set a goal to journal each day and pray for the people and moments you are grateful for!

Depending on what you are looking to accomplish through intentional living will impact the type of goals you are trying to set. If you are looking to release your love for material possessions, make a goal around becoming more minimal.

If you are looking to slow down and enjoy where your feet are, make a goal to schedule less.

Pinterest can be a great place to look for inspiration on how to set these goals but make sure they align with your overall values, otherwise you might not stick with the goals and lifestyle.

3. Create a daily routine that reflects your intentions

Creating a daily routine that reflects your intentions is extremely important. You need to establish daily habits that align with your goals, otherwise your overall goal of intentional living will crumble.

Some intentional activities that you can utilize in your schedule include planning for the day ahead, journaling, meditating, exercising, grounding, no screen time, reading, and walking.

Consistency is the cornerstone of cultivating an intentional lifestyle. These intentional habits will be the change you are looking for in your life!

Another reminder here, make sure the habits you are looking to start are reflective of the intentional lifestyle you are looking to live. If you aren’t ready to live like a minimalist, don’t add a habit that will require you to get rid of your possessions daily.

Try the method of adding before subtracting. If you are looking for more peace in your day, instead of cutting out all screen time, try adding 10 minutes of reading or meditation first. Once you feel you’ve created a strong habit of adding something in, utilize that momentum to start subtracting unwanted behaviors out.

4. Eliminate distractions and practice mindfulness (intentional living key!)

There are various common distractions that can derail intentional living almost immediately. Some include negative influences, excessive screen time, and overspending.

I know it’s not always easy to navigate negative influences in your life, as sometimes they are coming from some of the people we love the most, but there are mindfulness techniques we can utilize to help stay present and focused.

Try utilizing prayer, deep breathing, and meditation to assist with reducing the derailment from the lifestyle you are trying to live.

Though it might be difficult, setting boundaries with people and even technology that gets in the way of intentional living is a great way to keep your peace and habits going strong.

A boundary around technology use might be setting app limits or deleting an app on your phone and only using it when you are on the computer.

A boundary for negative influences in your life might be voicing your needs to them or simply spending a bit less time with them.

Setting boundaries is hard but so is living on the hamster wheel you are on now.

5. Foster meaningful, intentional relationships

Lastly, a big part of intentional living is fostering meaningful relationships.

The very first relationships you should be focusing on are the ones in your household. Providing a supportive, comfortable, and encouraging home for your family will help with the strong sense of fulfillment you are looking for.

In addition to family, seek community with those who have values that align with yours. Creating a connection with life-minded people will help enhance your intentional lifestyle.

A great way to deepen your connection with others is to make sure you are checking in with friends regularly by having meaningful and open conversations.

Be the friend or family member you wish to have in your life!

This post was all about intentional living and I hope these 5 tips help you begin your journey towards intentional living!

At it’s core, intentional living can lead to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life. By getting rid of the noise in your life, your life will feel more simplified, intentional, and stress free.

I hope these tips help you take the next step!