Living with intention: 9 Ways to live on purpose

What do you truly want?  

And how do you make conscious choices to shape your purpose? 

These questions are seemingly insignificant and often buried beneath a busy and distracted life. 

I’m not sure what led you to this blog post.

But can I tell you something? 

Most people including myself, (before I chose to be intentional), don’t realise that taking time to answer these types of questions can be a great way to start a meaningful and fulfilled life. 

And if intentional living is calling you, I’d like to offer some answers to one of the most impactful questions related to living with intention. 

What are the simple ways to live on purpose?

DISCLOSURE: This post contains Affiliate Links, which means I receive commission, at no extra cost to you, when you make purchase using those affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Here’s my full Disclaimer.

What does it mean to live with intention?

I hope it’s ok, but let’s step back a bit. 

What does it mean to live with intention? 

Intention means ” to act a certain way” : from Source, and intentional means “done with purpose or intention”. 

So…

Living with intention is about consciously and purposefully living your life based on what truly matters to you. 

It means making deliberate or conscious choices to align your thoughts and actions with your core values, beliefs, and principles. 

Intentional living cultivates a sense of fulfilment and balance that leads to a happier life. 

Hey, if you’re interested in using Notion, you can download a Free Notion Weekly Planner that’ll help you plan your intentional life one week at a time.

Example of an intentional living practice

An example of intentional living practice is setting aside time for reflection or meditation. It helps with prioritising mental health. And it also creates a space for self-reflection even if you don’t have much time. 

I struggle to stay still, so I don’t meditate, but I practise daily self-reflection. I usually take 1 to 2 minutes to do this. 

And then, every Friday afternoon, I do Weekly Planning and Review. using a Week Success Guide, which you can buy for $7 on this page. 

I’ve been doing this for about 3 years now consistently (and about 8 years on and off). This practice helped me a lot on both personal and professional levels.

I don’t always get things right, but weekly review keeps me on the right path.

And so, for me, to live with intention is to maintain an intentional and productive week. To keep an ideal week like this, I try and live each day with purpose and intention. 

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

I love that quote because it encourages me to be self-compassionate especially when my days don’t turn the way I planned. 

One of the intentional living practices I have embraced for a while now is weekly planning and review. You can grab a Free Printable Sunshine Weekly Planner here or if you prefer Notion, you can download the Free Intentional Weekly Planner template in Notion here.

Does intention matter?

The answer is absolutely “yes”.

Intention creates inspired action at a present moment that benefits you in a long run and potentially leads to a more joyful life. 

When you act with clear intent, you’re not only going to achieve your goals but you’re also enjoy the process.

“Best choices are made when they are based on best intentions. Remarkable things happen, and it ripples to different areas of your life when you live with intention” – intentionaleblog.com

In just 3 short years, I’ve gotten 3 benefits by choosing to live an intentional life.

Clarity and Purpose

I have clarity and purpose now because intentional living encouraged me to be more reflective and deliberate. This lifestyle helped me make significant shifts on how I see things so now I foster a more positive mindset. 

Being more intentional helps me cultivate mindfulness in productivity, money, and life. It doesn’t mean I get everything right all the time though. I drop the balls here and there and I’m ok with that. 

Mapped Journey

It took me about 9 months before I got clear on my purpose. Having a blog helped me discover and navigate my unique path that is guided by my values and passion. And slowly, week after week, I was able to map my journey which helped me set milestones that build on each other. 

I don’t think there’s an end point when it comes to intentional living, because it’s a lifestyle. So I simply live and experience it, with all its ebbs and flows. 

Meaningful Goals and Fulfilling Achievements

Living with intention helped me turn meaningful goals into fulfilling achievements. 

I learned how to use WordPress. This is a fulfilling achievement because, before the blog, I couldn’t even use our tv remote control. I still don’t know how to use it now, because instead of watching tv, I blog. (big grin)

And I just wish I knew about these 3 resources when I was just starting to blog. Note: they are still useful even if you have been blogging for a while.

• Learning WordPress without Fear by Dr Fran Whitaker
• Blogging Foundations by Sadie Smiley
• Learn WordPress for Blogger by Diane Houghton

Had I known these 3 gems, my experience as a beginner blogger would have been smoother. I broke my website 3 times. Wasted so many hours and sleepless weekends figuring things out, and learning to blog on my own.

I learned how to create planners and printables too. You’ll find them in the ieSHOP and GratefulheartshopbyE. This is another fulfilling achievement. I never thought there would be another outlet that’s not only feeding my creativity but also giving me bonus money.

How to live with intention

The easiest way to answer this question is to answer another question. 

What are the simple ways to live on purpose? 

I’m going to give you 9 ideas to do just that, but first….a gentle reminder. 

While these ideas are simple, some of them might not be as easy as you initially thought. Some ideas will challenge your existing routines and habits. They may even push you out of your comfort zone. 

But remember, that growth and meaningful changes occur when you embrace these challenges. So, just push through, and implement the ideas through the lens of an experimental person. Try one first, see if it helps you. Then try another, and then another, until you find the best.

Do things with curiosity and be excited about what would happen next.

1. Always start with reflection

Are you new to intentional living? The first thing I suggest is reflect. 

A good place to start is to reflect on what truly matters to you. 

Even though there’s no hierarchy on the ways of living on purpose, I honestly think that the most important step is to reflect on your core values and beliefs first. You can use them collectively as your anchor to guide you with your decisions and actions in making meaningful choices.  

It just makes it easier to align your priorities with your goals. And when you need to make an important decisions, knowing your priorities will will help you make the right decision. 

Reflection is not only helpful when making decisions. It’s also helpful when you’re things don’t go according to plan and when you’re feeling discouraged.

Consider this as your first step to living life on purpose.

Make time for self reflection. Here are a few questions to start with:

• What brings you joy, and what makes you feel excited?
• What are your core values and your beliefs?
• How do you want to create a positive impact in your life and the people around you?

If you need to go a little deeper, click the image below and answer the powerful self-reflection questions.

2. Set clear and intentional goals

To set goals that are clear and intentional, let your values and principles guide you.

Doing it this way ensures that your goals reflect your authentic desires and aspirations. 

How to set clear and intentional goals in 2 steps 

1. Ask yourself what matters in your life right now. What do you value the most? Think about family, career, personal growth, health, and relationships.
2. Zoom out, then zoom in. I do this by going high level first (zoom out). I start with a broad idea or concept of what I want (my goal).  I zoom in a little bit by making a game plan, on how I will get there, by identifying the milestones (the projects). Then, I zoom in a little bit more by breaking the projects into single action step (task). 

One last thing, make sure that you stay flexible by being open- minded. People and life change and so as your intentions. And it’s ok to change goals if need be. 

3. Cultivate mindfulness

Cultivating mindfulness in everyday life is about bringing awareness and intention to each moment. It’s about savouring the moment, taking notice of your thoughts and emotions without judgement and appreciating even the smallest thing. Yes, even when you’re feeling discouraged or defeated.

It allows you to fully experience the here and now. 

For me, mindfulness is not only about meditation, it’s also about being present. I practise this by:

• making money consciousness a part of my every day life.
• practising intentional productivity and being intentional with my time.

I’m really good at practising an attitude of gratitude. I do this without even knowing it, because I’ve trained my brain, to always look for the good things. Yes, in everything, even the little things in life. 

But I admit, I got a lot to learn when it comes to mindfulness.

So, while I was conceptualising this blog post, I decided to check out one of the resources in Sadie Smiley’s PIPS Membership, and oh my goodness! Lucky I had a timer, I would have spent hours and hours reading blog posts about mindfulness and end up not finishing this blog post in time. 

Ok, I actually went over time, but I think it was worth it. 

I learned that there’s a link between mindfulness and emotional regulation. And then discovered the 8 types of Meditation. This inspired me to add another project in my Project List. 

In December, during my downtime, I’m going to practice Mindfulness Project in the Kitchen and maybe bring the family dinner time back , like how it was when my kids were younger. Ah, I loved cooking dinner with them. 

Before moving to the next section, I just want to offer another type of mindfulness, the only other mindfulness I deeply know and practise.

4. Make time for intentional planning

I think it’s fair to say that we can’t plan our entire life. But we can be intentional and live our dream life by practising intentional planning. 

The type of planning doesn’t really matter much for now. What matters is you make time to think about tomorrow as you live your life today.

Manage what you do with your time. Make realistic plans that reflect your goals. And make intentional choice that supports your priority.

But keep in mind that planning is not about controlling every waking moment. Instead, it’s about living each moment consciously with purpose and authenticity. 

When you’re planning, you don’t need each step perfectly mapped out . Sometimes you’ll have all the action steps, but if you don’t, it’s ok. You just need to get ahead a little. That could mean, knowing the first sensible step to move you forward from where you right now.

Speaking of plans.

I want to highlight that planning doesn’t have to start in January.

Any time you’re ready and inspired is the perfect time. If planning feels a little daunting, start with a free 2-page Weekly Planner.

So craft your dream life thoughtfully and allow your story to unfold naturally.

5. Practise Intentional Productivity

Intentional Productivity is a productivity driven by intention which primary focus is to get the (right) things done, at the right time for the right reason. 

What do I mean by that? 

It simply means, when it’s work time, you work deeply. And when it’s time to rest, you rest guilt-free and you enjoy every second of it.

When you’re intentionally productive you:

• prioritise your tasks and manage your projects effectively, so you can maximise the time you have
• simplify your life by decluttering both physical and mental space. 
• let go of unnecessary commitments, unhelpful thoughts and unrealistic expectations 

Notice that I didn’t say manage your time? One of the things I learned as I create an intentional life is about time management. 

I learned that we cannot control time, but we can manage what we do with our time. 

When you’re intentionally productive, it means you have a clear goal. 

You have a priority that’s aligned with that goal. And then, your daily actions support that priority. This helps you create a healthy balance between achievement and wellbeing.

And it’s not about doing more or constantly grinding at every waking moment. It’s about focusing on what truly matters in the here and now.

Intentional Productivity is also being selective of what you do. And being ruthlessly and unapologetically protective of your time. 

Set reasonable boundaries and manage distractions. You can do this by streamlining your systems, routines and workflow. 

If you have your own business I highly recommend reading the  Workflows vs SOPs and it’s importance in Online Business Operations. It might spark a new way of handling your online business. 

6. Use the Power of Weekly Planner 

There are different kinds of planners. Do you have a favourite? Which do you prefer, digital or physical?

I’m a pen and paper person, but I personally use a hybrid style. I set my intentions yearly, I plan my goals quarterly, create projects monthly, plan+review weekly, then take actions daily. And a weekly planner works best for me.

I use Bullet Journal (physical) and Notion (digital). I’ve been using Bullet Journal since 2016 and Notion since 2019. This combo helps me manage my life and business while giving me space for both productivity and mindfulness.

Using a weekly planner gives me a sense of control over my schedule not the other way around. It helps me manage my capacity while staying flexible. Gives me a chance to reset and do better every 7 days. 

Every single week, I see my progress which brings immense sense of satisfaction and motivation to keep going. I find joy and a sense of purpose, every time I set weekly goals, when I prioritise tasks, and structure my week. This forms my intrinsic motivation to just keep going whatever it is I’m working on.

Full disclosure: I don’t always have a productive week, because sometimes, life happens. And that’s ok. Next week is another week, and I can have another shot at it.

Here’s the image of my Weekly Dashboard. A simple Notion Page that holds everything I need for the week. Note: In case you’re wondering about the #421, that’s the number of weeks I’m using Bullet Journal at the time of publishing this blog post.

7. Make time for self-care 

My Mother is a very wise woman. I’m incredibly grateful to have a Mother like her who instilled in me wisdom on health and money. And she always says, when you’re healthy, then you’re rich.

But as soon as I moved out of home, I got lost somewhere. In the back of my mind I knew how important self- care is, but my actions didn’t reflect that.

I valued hard work, hustling and grinding more than well-being.  From when I was in high school until I finished College, I was crazy busy. Working during the day and studying at night. I was too attached with my goals then, and I might have pushed productivity a. little too far.

It’s sad because the productivity I knew then was destructive and unhealthy. It’s so different from the kind of productivity that I know and practise now.

So here’s some thoughts 

• doing more is not always productive
• doing less of the right things is so much better than doing more of the wrong things (things that aren’t aligned with your intention) 
• Rest is also productive and never a waste of time. Ever. 

And here’s what I can offer. A Collection of Printable Undated Calendar for only $12 to help you with planning and scheduling. You’ll get Quarterly, Monthly and Weekly Printable Calendars.

8. Nurture relationships 

Nurturing relationships is one of the elements of intentional living that takes the centre stage.

Connection with yourself and with other people especially loved ones have a profound impact in overall well-being.

And it’s not just about building surface-level connections. It’s about fostering deep and meaningful bond. This can be done by making time for real conversations, creating memorable experiences and being proactive with offering support when it’s needed most.

As a blogger, I get the best of both worlds. Real life and virtual conenctions.

In real life, I make sure I make time to connect with my husband, kids, friends and family. I’m confident in my deep connection with my husband and kids that even if some days I have to work long hours, I know that they won’t feel I’m neglecting them. Or that my work is more important than them.

Story time (real quick, I promise)

So sorry, to interrupt the flow of this section. I just have to share this, but of course you can skip it if you like.

The image below is a DIY card made by my 8-year old daughter, Moon. This is bittersweet, because this reminds me of one Saturday that I had to prioritise my website over family.

One Saturday when my husband was at work, and my son was playing soccer. I accidentally did something in the back-end of my website. It wrecked the pages, the images, the links. Everything was a big mess.

So, I asked Moon if she would be ok to do things on her own. We would be in the same room, but I needed to focus, so I could fix the website.

She knows that when I say I need to focus, it means she can only come to me when it’s an emergency. She can write something on a post-it notes and I will help her during my brain break.

On this day, I didn’t get anything, even one post-it note.

But I know she watched youtube, read books, (lots of books), and played with her toys.

And when I was ready to be present with her, after long hours, that felt like forever, she gave me a card with those cute doodles.

I’m sharing this, because I want you to know that as long as you have deep connections with the people around you, it’s ok not be present sometimes. They will still appreciate you and you’ll still be you.

And here’s a few ideas to nurture relationships

• Unplug, do offline things together
• Engage with the people that matter to you and do meaningful activities together. 
• Practise kindness and compassion, improve social connections. 
• Offer time and attention

9. Set intentions every day

Setting intention on a daily basis is often associated with mindfulness, purpose and self-improvement. This is a proactive and empowering practice that encourages you to be more conscious of your actions and choices at the present moment. 

For me setting intention is simply the act of pausing for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, except when I do my yearly intention setting.

In this daily habit, I start each day, setting intentions for how I want to show up, and what I want to accomplish. Then think about how I want my day to be. I do it when I open my eyes in the morning, when I’m about to start my day job, and when I’m about to start working on my blog.

It really helps. Most days I stay focused and motivated.

“The only time you’ll ever have is now” – Brian Tracy

Your next actions steps

Living with intention allows you to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life. I hope at least one of those 9 ideas sparked an idea for you to try. Your next step is to try one or two ideas and experiment.

By reflecting on your values, setting clear goals, practicing mindfulness, and making intentional choices, you can align your actions with what truly matters to you.

So, incorporate intentional planning, productivity, self-care, and nurturing relationships into your daily routine.

I want to leave you with this thought:

Living with intention is a journey, and each small step you take brings you closer to living a life of purpose and meaning.

And as good side effect of that, you also achieve your goals.