How to be more intentional
We’re so excited to have guests Rachel and Christine from The Thrive Podcast on our podcast show and we talk about being more intentional in all aspects of our lives! Below are 8 tips to consider if you would like to be more intentional in your life.
1- rest. pause. breathe. It is ok, and necessary to rest. to sleep fully. Also, before every action you take there is a moment. In that moment, you have the opportunity to pause and process whether the action you’re about to take is well aligned with your ideals. A two second pause can be the difference between living in alignment or bouncing from impulse to impulse.
2- prepare the day before. If you were able to design your perfect day from beginning to end, what would it look like? Imagine a productive, meaningful way you might spend your time. Working on projects, spending time with loved ones and friends, etc. Take note of the things that are included and more importantly, what wasn’t included? I rarely hear people mention spending time on Facebook during their ideal day. create some quick and easy actions that reflect that ideal. While it may sound counter-intuitive, the smaller the action, the better. Whether it’s one minute of meditation, slow breathing, one push-up, or reading a few pages of a book, consistent action is more important than immediate results.
3. turn off electronics and love the ones your with. kiss your partner. hug your kids/animals. laugh with others. dance & sing. Turn off the gadgets that are sucking time away from the present and away from what is right in front of you. Many of us are stuck in someone else’s world by mindlessly scrolling, comparing, judging and essentially wasting our time.
4. stop pursuing work/life balance. It is a unicorn, and although I love unicorns, you won’t actually catch one. There are seasons that dictate where more time will be spent and this with fluctuate greatly over a lifetime. The key essential is: are you loving it all despite where time is spent? There isn’t really work or personal- there is just living. If you aren’t enjoying one or more areas of your life- it is time for a change.
5. know your why. what is it you wake up for? this isn’t the same as purpose- more on that in another show/blog. this is what excites you each day to wake up. is it to serve others? is it to love on your kids? is it to sell more products you love? Know your why intimately as it serves as a beacon when things get a bit shitty…as things are bound to do at some point (or more) in our journeys.
6. say no more, so you can say yes more. We live in a culture of FOMO- where we don’t ever want to miss out on anything, so much so that we miss out on our OWN internal desires for life. We overload every corner of our lives until we explode with deadlines, social engagements, personal commitments, health goals, and the list goes on and on. We like to think we have it under control, yet each non-aligned ‘yes’ leaks toxic waste into our life.
When you say ‘no’ to a new project, client, or event that is not part of your MAIN WHY- you are aligning yourself to be able to say YES to something that adds to your goals and dreams. You actively become intentional in your everyday decisions.
7. express gratitude every day. this is said so much these days that it is quite overlooked. but gratitude is the #1 shift changer. Whether it’s writing down three things you’re grateful for in your notebook (or five minute journal which has an app now too), sending a text to a friend, or a letter to someone you are thankful for- expressing gratitude simply makes us feel more joyful. By acting on it daily, you begin to establish an attitude of abundance and gratitude.
8. make the bed every morning. While it might seem a bit strange, making the bed every morning can lead to more success throughout the day. This is traditionally known as a keystone habit, done first thing in the morning and can trigger other successful habits to come after it. By making the bed every day after waking up, you establish an early ‘win’ and a pattern of success.
Learn more about Christine and Rachel here!
