How to live intentionally: 10 practical tips on how to improve your life

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If you’re like me, sometimes you might feel like you’re going through the motions of life, lacking a sense of purpose or direction. Maybe you feel like your actions don’t align with what truly matters to you. Do you want to take control of your life and get some direction for daily life?

Then maybe it’s time to consider the power of intentional living.

Intentional living is a powerful practice all about: 

• living with purpose

• being mindful of your actions and decisions

• making conscious choices that match your values.

But it's not just about being serious and goal-oriented all the time. It's about having fun and enjoying the journey too! For many of us, the idea of intentional living can feel overwhelming.

Learn how to live with purpose, make conscious choices, and enjoy the journey with these practical tips and strategies for successful intentional living.

1. Identify your values

Identifying your values is an essential first step in your intentional living journey. 

What are values? They’re the principles and beliefs you hold that are most important to you. 

We can use our values to guide our actions and decisions and help us to choose a life that is authentic to us. The idea is that this makes life more fulfilling and meaningful.

“But what are my values?” you may be asking. Let’s find out! 

Start by reflecting on what’s most important to you and what matters most to you in life. It could be family, relationships, your career, your health, or (if you’re like me) personal growth.

Here are some of my personal values:

• Simplicity

• Kindness

• Personal growth

• Honesty

• Wellbeing

If you’re coming up short in the reflecting stage, take a look at Declutter Your Mind by S.J Scott and Barrie Davenport. They have a great chapter on identifying your values that will help you going forward.

There are so many benefits to living intentionally by your values. Living by your values also helps you to be more intentional in your actions, which leads to a life that is more fulfilling and meaningful.

In addition, it can also help you to be resilient in the face of challenges because what’s important to you is clear.

2. Set clear goals 

Once you’ve got your values in place, setting clear goals is the next vital step in the intentional living journey. Take this time to really reflect on what matters to you, and use that to figure out what you care most about achieving in life.

It could mean a career change, booking more trips away, or improving your physical health. Whatever it is, it’s essential to use this reflection to get a clear idea of what you want to accomplish.

My tip is to journal your ideas and make a plan to bring them to life. Break them down into manageable steps, so you can see progress and stay motivated. And remember, be specific and realistic when setting your goals. 

If you're like me and need extra help with sticking to habits, I highly recommend checking out James Clear's Atomic Habits. It's an amazing read on the science behind behaviour change and how to implement it in daily life.

3. Eliminate the unnecessary

If you’re reading this, then you’ve definitely heard of minimalism. But have you heard of essentialism? 

Greg McKeown in his book Essentialism says that the key to living a more intentional life is to identify what is truly essential in your life and eliminate everything else. 

This can include letting go of obligations and activities that don’t align with your goals, or values. It could mean giving up drinking, for example. It can also mean, in the more popular minimalist sense, decluttering your physical space to make room for the things that truly matter.

I know as much as anyone that it’s not always easy to let go of things, whether they be physical possessions, obligations, or limiting mindsets.

But when you eliminate the unnecessary, you'll have more time, energy, and focus to devote to the things that truly matter to you, and that’s a massive win for your wellbeing!

If you need a little help getting started with decluttering your physical surroundings, check out Marie Kondo’s The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up for some inspiration on decluttering your home.

Creating space in your mind and your surroundings makes everything else on this list much easier to do, I promise!

4. Prioritise self-care

It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life and forget to take care of ourselves. But living intentionally means taking care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. It's crucial to set boundaries and limits to ensure you're not overloading yourself with too much stress or too many obligations.

Self-care is not only a way to take care of yourself, but it's also a way to ensure you're able to focus on your goals and values. It's essential to make time for activities that nourish your body and mind, like exercise, meditation, and connecting with loved ones. These activities not only make us feel good, but they also improve our overall well-being.

For example, regular exercise not only helps to improve our physical health, but it also helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Meditation is also a great tool for reducing stress and anxiety, as well as improving focus and concentration. And connecting with loved ones is an essential part of feeling connected and supported in our lives.

It's important to remember that self-care is not selfish, it's a necessary part of living intentionally. And if you're not sure where to start with motivating yourself to move, be sure to check out my article on how to exercise more, it's a great resource to get you started on your self-care journey.

5. Be mindful of your actions and decisions

Have you ever stopped to think about the choices you make and how they align with your values and goals? Being mindful of our actions and decisions is one of the most important aspects of intentional living. In my own experience, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine and make decisions without giving much thought to how they align with our values and goals.

But when we take the time to evaluate our actions and decisions, we can ensure that they align with our values and goals, and also take responsibility for the outcomes of those choices. It's a powerful tool to help us live intentionally.

In the book Intentional Living by John C. Maxwell, the author states that "Intentional living is the act of being purposeful in every area of your life. It's about knowing your values and goals, and making choices that align with them." This means that being mindful of our actions and decisions is not only important but also a crucial step in the process of intentional living.

It's not always easy to be mindful of our actions and decisions, but it's an essential part of intentional living. It's about taking control of our lives and living according to our values and goals, not just going through the motions. So, take a moment to evaluate your actions and decisions, make sure they align with your values and goals, and you'll be on your way to living a more intentional life.

6. Let go of possessions you do not need

Looping back to essentialism and the decluttering advice from earlier, another key aspect of intentional living is to let go of possessions that do not add value to your life. Minimalism emphasises the importance of decluttering your physical space, so you can focus more on the things that truly matter. As the Minimalists say, "The things you own end up owning you."

Consider what possessions you own that you don't use, don't love or don't need, and let them go. Not only will this make your living space look better, but it also gives you a sense of freedom. As Marie Kondo says in The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up "When you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order too." By decluttering your physical space, you are also decluttering your mind and making room for the things that truly matter to you.

It's not always easy to let go of possessions, especially if they have sentimental value, but it's important to remember that they are just things, and they do not define who we are. It's a process, start by decluttering one room at a time, or one category of possessions, and take it step by step. You'll be amazed at how much lighter and free you feel once you let go of the things that no longer serve you. Remember, less is more, and by letting go of possessions, you're making room for the things that truly matter to you.

7. Invest in relationships that truly matter

Living intentionally means being mindful of the relationships you have and investing in the ones that truly matter to you. It's essential to surround yourself with people who uplift you, support your goals, and make you a better person. This means setting boundaries with people who drain your energy or don't align with your values and goals, and making the most of the time you have with the people who truly matter to you.

As the famous quote goes, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." So, it's important to be intentional about the relationships we invest in. Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional well-being, and it can also help you to achieve your goals and live a more fulfilling life.

On the other hand, if you're spending most of your time with people who don't align with your values, it can be detrimental to your well-being and can hold you back from reaching your goals.

It's important to remember that not all relationships are meant to last forever, and it's okay to let go of people or relationships that no longer serve you. Invest in the relationships that truly matter, and you'll find that your life will be more fulfilling, and you'll have more energy to devote to the things that truly matter to you.

8. Create a schedule with intention

One way to be intentional about your time is to create a schedule that aligns with your values and goals. By scheduling your time in a way that supports your values and goals, you'll be able to make the most of your time and live a more fulfilling life.

Start by blocking out time for the things that truly matter, like self-care, time with loved ones, and working towards your goals. It's essential to make time for activities that nourish your body and mind, like exercise, meditation, and connecting with loved ones. These activities not only make us feel good but also improve our overall well-being.

Be intentional about the time you spend on your hobbies and leisure activities. Make sure they align with your values and bring you joy. For example, if you value personal growth like I do, spending time reading or learning a new skill (or starting a blog…) can be a great way to align your leisure time with your values.

Creating a schedule that you can stick to is crucial. Make sure to include some flexibility for unexpected events, but at the same time, be mindful of how you spend your time, and make sure it aligns with your values and goals.

Having a schedule that aligns with your values and goals will help you to make the most of your time and live a more intentional life. Remember to block out time for the things that truly matter to you and be mindful of how you spend your leisure time. With a bit of planning, you can make the most of your time and live a more fulfilling life.

9. Give back to your community

Giving back to your community is an essential part of living intentionally. It's not only about you, it's also about how you can make a difference in the lives of others.

There are many ways to give back to your community, one of the most common is through volunteering. Whether it's helping out at a local animal shelter, mentoring a child, or participating in a community clean-up, volunteering your time and skills can make a big difference. It's a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and make a positive impact on your community.

Another way to give back to your community is through charitable donations. If you're not able to volunteer your time, you can still make a difference by making a monetary donation to a cause that aligns with your values.

Giving back to your community not only makes a positive impact on the lives of others, but it also helps you to live a more fulfilling life. It's a reminder that we're all interconnected, and that our actions can have a ripple effect on the world around us. By giving back to your community, you're not only making a difference in the lives of others, but you're also living a more intentional life.  It's all about finding a way to give back that aligns with your values and interests.

10. Reflect regularly

Living intentionally is an ongoing process that requires regular reflection. It's important to take some time every day or week to reflect on your progress, your values, your goals, and what you're learning along the way. This will help you stay on track and make any necessary adjustments.

Regular reflection is a powerful tool that can help you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world. It allows you to evaluate your progress and make sure you're on the right track. By reflecting on your values and goals, you can ensure that your actions align with what's truly important to you. Reflecting on what you're learning along the way, helps you to understand the lessons and insights that you've gained, and how you can apply them to your life.

There are many ways to reflect. You can keep a journal, meditate, or simply take a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect on your day. The most important thing is to find a method that works for you and make it a regular part of your routine.

Regular reflection is an essential part of intentional living, it helps you to stay on track, gain a deeper understanding of yourself, and make any necessary adjustments. Remember, living intentionally is an ongoing process, and regular reflection is an important step in the journey. By looking back, you'll be amazed at how much you've grown.

Intentional living is all about making conscious choices and setting clear goals that align with your values and what truly matters to you. It's about taking control of your life, instead of letting life control you! I hope these tips will help to decrease the overwhelm and allow you to start creating the life you truly want. Start small, start today, and keep on moving! Good luck, friend!

Further reading

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

• Declutter Your Mind by S.J Scott and Barrie Davenport

• Minimalism by The Minimalists

• Intentional Living by John C. Maxwell