Are you someone who thrives on having established routines, to do lists and all kinds of organization craps out there? If this sounds like you, I feel you! I am that sis too. It is always great to live with a routine on autopilot and not having to think about most things. However, I often find myself wondering what life would be if I chose to do things differently and be more intentional. In this article I share some tips that have helped me live more intentionally and be present in the moment.
But first, what is intentional living?
In simple terms, living intentionally means deciding what you want from life and going for it! It is about being mindful and present with yourself as you make choices and define your priorities so you can live as true as possible to your values and what matters to you.
These days it becomes difficult for many of us to live intentionally because we have so many distractions and influences from the world. Social media has made the world so much closer with trends and challenges that if we are not careful enough can affect our values and how we view the world.
Living intentionally is crucial even more so now because how we spend our day is how we will be spending our lives. If we are not careful we may live the choices that others make for us! Granted, everyone’s intentional life will look different but you are free to apply it in any and all areas of your life.
So, how do you start living more intentionally? Tips to try…
1. Start by defining your core values
Having core values will guide what your intentional life looks like. With them, it becomes easier
to make difficult and day-to-day decisions. They make you unique and align you with the right
people and places.
2. Think about how your ideal day look/feels
Even though not all days are the same, you can still control some of the things happening in your day by having a clear structure of your day. It will help start and end your day on the right note, however busy you’ve been in between. The best way to structure your day is by thinking about your ideal day and finding ways to incorporate some of the things into your actual day no matter how small.
3. Declutter your home
Being the place that you spend your time most, how your home looks and feels will help you feel more intentional in your life. There is a saying that a messy home is a messy mind, and I completely agree with that. I don’t know why but I always find myself very anxious and antsy when I am in a cluttered space for a long time. It helps having a clean and organized place to help you think peacefully. At least that’s what I have found to be working for me! Try it for yourself and see how light it makes you feel.
4. Pause and breathe
Before doing something big or making a decision, it helps to take a minute, pause and breathe to process if what you are about to do will align with your values and goals. While each day may seem small, years later you’ll find that progress was made one small day at a time. After all, how we spend our days is how we spend our lives.
5. Be grateful
A feeling and attitude of gratefulness will help you attract more abundance in your life. Whether you write down or say out loud the things you are grateful about, doing it more consistently will force you to become more thoughtful every day!
By : Christine Gimonge
