5 Ways to Start Living With Intention
A starting point for women craving more clarity, alignment, and calm
If you’re new to the idea of intentional living, or maybe you’ve heard the phrase floating around but haven’t felt totally sure what it means or how to begin, I want to start by sharing one woman’s perspective (mine! :)).
Over the past several years, I’ve been exploring what it really looks and feels like to live intentionally. Not in a perfectionist, overly-structured kind of way, but in a way that honors who I am, how I want to feel in my life, and what I want this one life of mine to hold space for.
To me, intentional living is about getting clear on who you are — the real, truest version and then aligning your time, your choices, and your energy with that version of yourself. It’s about learning to live with more presence, more care, and more connection to your values, even in the midst of everyday chaos.
At its heart, living with intention simply means defining how you want to feel in your life and then choosing — as often as you can — the actions, boundaries, and perspectives that bring that experience to life.
Why Intentional Living Feels So Different
When you begin to live more intentionally, you may start to notice:
A growing sense of confidence in yourself and your path
Less stress over things that used to feel urgent but aren’t actually important
A renewed clarity about where your time is going and what really matters to you
A quieter mind and a more grounded heart
And it’s not about living perfectly or becoming hyper-productive. It’s about slowly waking up to your life and deciding to lead it with more awareness, more kindness, and more intention.
If you’re craving simplicity, clarity, and a deeper connection to the life you’re building, here’s where to begin.
5 ways to start living with more intention today:
Acknowledge and respect who you are at your core.
The world has a way of layering expectations on us — roles, responsibilities, routines — until we’re shaped more by what's expected of us than by who we really are. One of the most powerful things you can do is pause long enough to ask, what’s actually true for me?Start by letting go of anything that feels like a performance or a mask. Then gently return to what feels natural and real. What values do you hold closest? What parts of your personality feel most “you,” even if they don’t always feel convenient or well-received?
Each day, take a small step to return to that truest version of yourself and build your life around her.
Acknowledge what you want from this life.
Life moves fast, and it’s easy to get swept along by momentum — but every so often, we need to zoom out. We need to remember that this is our one life, and we are allowed to choose how we want to live it.So take a moment to step back from the rush of your current routine, and ask yourself:
What do I want to remember about this season of my life?
What do I want more of — and what needs to gently fade away?
Write out your answers as “I intend to…” statements. For example, “I intend to create space for slow mornings” or “I intend to let joy be part of my decision-making.” These statements can act as tiny anchors when life feels chaotic.
Be intentional with your time.
This isn’t about filling up a planner or making an ideal morning routine. It’s about recognizing that time is your most precious resource — and deciding how you want to spend it before it gets spent for you.We often tell ourselves, “I’ll get to that when I have time,” but the truth is: time doesn’t create itself. We create it by being thoughtful with our energy and honest with our priorities.
Each day, try to name 1–3 things you want to make space for things that truly matter to you. Whether it’s a walk without your phone, cooking dinner without rushing, or finishing a chapter of a book that’s been sitting beside your bed for months, choosing how to spend your time gives your day more meaning.
(If you need structure, you can use a daily or weekly intention planner, not to fill every minute, but to protect the moments that matter.)
Set boundaries that respect your energy.
Living with intention also means protecting your peace — and your energy — from the things that drain it.This can mean saying no to overcommitting, gently stepping back from conversations that exhaust you, or noticing which digital habits pull you out of presence.
Start by asking: Where is my energy going?
And is that energy aligned with what I want for my life right now?Sometimes, the most intentional thing you can do is simply not answer right away. Or cancel a plan. Or give yourself space to rest without guilt.
You don’t have to be everything to everyone. You just have to start choosing what feels aligned for you.
Practice simple, honest gratitude.
It’s hard to live intentionally when you’re constantly made to feel like what you have — or who you are — isn’t enough. And in a world that’s always nudging you to want more, gratitude becomes a kind of quiet rebellion.So when your mind starts to spiral into “not enough,” try pausing for just a moment to say:
“This is enough. I am enough. I have enough.”It doesn’t mean settling. It means appreciating what is and from that place, choosing your next step with clarity instead of comparison.
Intentional living isn’t about chasing more. It’s about cherishing what’s already here.
Want more intention in your life?
Inside The Intentional Living Library, I’ve created free resources to help you get started: journaling prompts, daily planning tools, seasonal rituals, and mindset shifts — all designed to help you slow down and reconnect with what matters.
✨ Start your intentional life project today.
→ Visit The Intentional Living Library
