Living with Intention: How I Transformed My Life with Small Daily Choices

I used to think living with intention meant having a master plan, a perfect roadmap where every step was carefully laid out. Needless to say, this master plan and roadmap was to be put together mindfully.

But as I started exploring what it really meant for me, I realised what began as a need to be more in control with my life, was really about having deeper connection with myself and others around me.

It started with a simple practice: journalling. At first, it was messy. Half-thoughts scribbled in the early hours of the morning, pages filled with questions I didn’t have answers to yet.

Over time though, I noticed a shift. The more I wrote, the more I began to hear myself clearly: my wants, my needs, my quiet desires that had been drowned out by the noise of routine and expectation.

I replaced shoulds with coulds and woulds and started being clear that my actions were in alignment with my values and beliefs.

One of the first things I changed was how I spent my mornings. Instead of rushing into my day, I carved out small blocks of time just for me, what I started calling my intentional mornings. I started waking up a little earlier, not to be more productive, but to be more present.

• Started with blocking out time in my calendar for Intentional Mornings.
• A few minutes of morning meditation and movement, just breathing and centering myself before the world rushed in.
• Quiet personal rituals. For me it was making my morning cup of coffee (a habit I'd like to break though) then moving through the morning without urgency.
• Exploring new and old facets of myself. I started going to the gym, picking up a physical book that intrigued me, and basically giving myself permission to be curious again.

This wasn’t about adding more to my to-do list. It was about making space for what truly mattered... for connection, for self-discovery, for a sense of calm in the chaos.

If I'm honest, beginning this Intentional Living was a little rough. It started with just wanted to live life more meaningfully. But through this desire, a process way started to get clear. I started asking myself deeper questions for clarity and understanding:

• What does intention actually look like in my daily life?
• Where am I moving out of habit rather than choice?
• What small shifts could help me align my life with what truly matters to me?

I realised that intentional living wasn’t just about the big life decisions but in the everyday choices.

I saw it as the way I greeted each morning, the words I chose to speak, the boundaries I set, the way I showed up for myself and others.

Once I had built that foundation of inner connection, I felt ready to nurture and work on my connection with others. After all, what is life without sharing it with others?

So I started being intentional with my relationships:

• Catching up with loved ones more often, not out of obligation, but because I genuinely wanted to nurture those connections.
• Being present in conversations, putting my phone away, really listening instead of thinking about my next response.
• Savouring the moments, laughing with friends over coffee, lingering a little longer in meaningful conversations, making space for real connection.

Here's what I learnt: intentionality in relationships isn’t about grand gestures it’s about presence. It’s about choosing to truly be there, to create moments of depth and warmth in the everyday. It's about listening, taking interest, being genuinely curious, and letting them know they are cared for and loved.

One of the main lessons I've learnt over the years is that intentional living isn’t about perfection but awareness and presence. Some days, I still rush through my mornings. Some weeks, I forget to reach out to friends. But it's a practice and while I may slip every now and again, my key change is that I notice. And when I notice, I can choose differently.

So if you’re on this journey too, here’s my invitation to you:

• Start small. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Begin with one intentional moment each day.
• Create space. Even five minutes of quiet reflection can help you reconnect with yourself.
• Ask yourself better questions. Instead of “What do I need to get done today?”, try “How do I want to feel today?”
• Be gentle with yourself. Intention isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing more of what matters.

Because at the end of the day, living with intention isn’t about how much you accomplish. It’s about how deeply you experience your own life. We're all unique and so are our journeys.

What’s one small way you can bring more intention into your day? I’d love to hear. 💛