Why Start Living With Intention
From Overdoing to On Purpose
Living with intention is not something you arrive at, it’s a continuous process. A practice. One that requires checking in with yourself regularly, listening deeply, and choosing what truly matters.
But why should we live with intention? Because when we do, we become open to who we truly are, we find our purpose, our values, our meaning.
It’s easy to fall into a life of autopilot and consumerism. To get swept along by what everyone else is doing or what the world tells us we should want. But intention asks us to pause. To slow down. To make conscious choices that feel aligned with who we are, or who we want to become.
Over the years, I’ve found that some areas of intentional living have come more naturally to me than others. I had an intention which started over 25 years ago, when I became deeply committed to reducing toxins in my home. Back then, I was seeking out natural alternatives to cleaning products and skincare long before it was popular. It was a strange time, as for me it was just what felt right, natural, normal. But I was seen as alternative, hippie even, so I quietly continued on what felt right for me. That instinct to protect my health and environment has stayed with me. I don’t always get it right, sometimes convenience creeps in, and a bottle of bleach! What felt alternative at the time, is now normal for many.
But it’s not about getting it right all the time. It’s about the intention, life is messy, we’re human, we make mistakes, we’re imperfect. It’s important to be kind to ourselves, and acknowledge the small steps, the effort and noting our values, whats important to us and living in alignment to our values.
More recently, I’ve started thinking more intentionally about how I spend my time, and who I spend it with. Connection is key, but so is protecting your energy. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, who energise you. Pay attention to how you feel in someone’s company. Do you feel seen, inspired, safe to be yourself?
I’m more mindful of the things I buy, from clothes to furniture, and I ask myself: Where is this from? Who made it? Does this align with my values? It stops me from just buying things, it slows me down, it allows me to no longer be on autopilot, cluttering up my life with stuff. I pause, ask and often the answer is no I don’t need it or I make a better choice.
Living with intention also means carving out time to just be. Not always chasing, hustling, or filling every moment, but allowing space for stillness, reflection, and rest. That might mean quiet mornings alone, or unhurried afternoons with family and friends. Do we need to be rushing, why are we rushing?
Because at the heart of intentional living is alignment. Is your life aligned with your values?
What We Need to Understand
We are shaped by unconscious patterns. Much of our daily behaviour is driven by habit, inherited beliefs, and societal conditioning. Living intentionally asks us to become more conscious of these influences, to question, rather than blindly follow.
As the saying goes, ‘energy flows where attention goes’. When we’re intentional about what we consume (media, food, ideas), how we spend our time, and who we surround ourselves with, our lives begin to shift, sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically.
Clarity comes from connection. When we’re disconnected from ourselves, it’s easy to live in ways that don’t reflect who we really are. Intention comes from knowing what we value. That knowing often emerges in stillness, through journaling, reflection, nature, creativity, or simply space to think.
How We Can Practise It
Start small.
Intention begins with awareness. Take one part of your day, your morning routine, your meals, your conversations, and bring more presence to it. Ask yourself, Is this how I want to show up?
Create rituals, not just routines.
Rituals root us in the present. Whether it’s lighting a candle before work, preparing food mindfully, or taking a walk without your phone, these small acts anchor intention in the everyday.
Curate your environment.
Our surroundings shape our mindset. Choose what you let into your space, objects, colours, sounds with care. Let your home reflect what matters to you.
Protect your attention.
In the age of constant distraction, attention is a precious resource. Turn off notifications. Make time to be offline. Choose inputs that inspire and uplift you.
Reflect often.
Living intentionally is a practice, not a destination. Check in with yourself regularly. What’s working? What’s draining you? What needs adjusting?
A Life That Feels Like Yours
Living with intention is deeply personal. It’s not about adopting someone else’s version of a ‘perfect’ life. It’s about returning to yourself, again and again, and designing a life that feels like home.
It’s a practice of presence. A celebration of simplicity. And ultimately, it’s an act of remembering what truly matters.
As I’ve come to learn, intentional living can touch every part of our lives, not just how we shop, eat, or spend our time, but how we think, move, connect, and be. Over time, I’ve found it helpful to think about intention across three areas: Mind, Body, and Soul.
Mind – Mental Clarity, Focus & Awareness
Intention: Cultivating presence, conscious thought, and a calm, focused mindset.
Practices:
Digital boundaries – curate what you consume; unfollow accounts that don’t align
Daily journaling – reflect, set intentions, clear mental clutter
One-thing-at-a-time – practise single-tasking instead of multitasking
Mindful learning – read books that stretch or ground you
Mental declutter – weekly ‘brain dumps’ to organise thoughts and to-dos
Intentional inputs – swap passive scrolling for uplifting or educational content
Body – Environment, Nourishment & Rhythms
Intention: Honouring your physical self and space with care and simplicity.
Practices:
Slow, nourishing meals – cook with whole ingredients, eat without distraction
Natural movement – stretch, walk, dance
Toxin-free swaps – reduce harsh chemicals in home and skincare
Rhythm over routine – design your days to support your energy, not fight it
Grounding rituals – sunlight, cold water, being barefoot
Curated space – let your home reflect calm, beauty, and what matters to you
Soul – Connection, Purpose & Inner Wisdom
Intention: Living in alignment with your values, creativity, and essence.
Practices:
Morning stillness – meditation, breathwork or simply being
Gratitude rituals – write or speak what you’re grateful for daily
Sacred time – carve out space for creativity, beauty, or rest, no guilt
Values check-in – are your actions aligned with what matters most?
Saying no – protect your energy and honour your boundaries
Presence in small things – light a candle, sip tea slowly, water the plants
These practices aren’t rules, they’re invitations. Starting points. Living intentionally isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness, attention, alignment.
Whether you begin with one tiny shift, or a deeper inquiry into what you value most, what matters is that it’s yours.