Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefits of Being IntentionalHow to Be Intentional in Daily LifeBeing Intentional in RelationshipsBeing Intentional in Achieving Goals

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Benefits of Being Intentional

How to Be Intentional in Daily Life

Being Intentional in Relationships

Being Intentional in Achieving Goals

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You can’t scroll on Twitter, TikTok, or even Pinterest without being spammed with “intentional living” posts. And, like, yeah, weallwant to live full, productive, and meaningful lives. (Or, at least, I do). But how does being intentional help us reach our goals—or, better yet, what does being intentional even mean? Well, I did some digging to find out.

“Being intentional means living with purpose and making deliberate choices that align with your values and goals,” saysEmily Zeller, LMFT, the founder at Zeller & Co. Therapy. It’s about beingmindful(re: self-aware) about your lifestyle choices and the in-the-moment decisions on things like boundaries, communication, time management, and goals.

Practicing intentionalitysoundseasy—and it is, to an extent. But it requires self-accountability,discipline, and lots of hard work. If you’re up for the challenge (I believe in you!), we lay out exactly how you can be more intentional. First step? Buy a vision board.

How to Use a Vision Board to Achieve Your Goals

Think of intentionality as being in the driver’s seat of your life. You’re in control of yourself and the destination.

“When you live intentionally, you clearly understand what you want to achieve and reasons you’re going for it,” says Zeller. You’re living more authentically and gaining more integrity in yourself and your relationships.

According to Zeller, some other benefits include:

Michelle Beaupre, PhD, LCSW, the clinical director at Villa Oasis, says one main benefit of being intentional is making better decisions.

“Instead of just reacting or making quick choices, you’re taking the time to think carefully and choose actions that match your goals and values,” she explains “This way, your decisions are more thoughtful and in line with what is important for you.” And you feel less regret and doubt over your decisions.

Single-Tasking for Productivity and Stress Management

It’s all fine and dandy to know the benefits of being more intentional but that doesn’t translate to action. You can choose at least one of these basic strategies (down below) to implement today.

Want more? Keep reading on for more expert-backed tips on becoming intentional.

Plan Your Day Out

Make a Vision Board

Creating a vision board can help you visualize your goals. “You can put pictures, quotes, or words that inspire you and showcase your values,” Beaupre adds. “Put it somewhere you will see daily, like on your bedroom wall or phone lock screen.”

Learn to Say No

Having strong boundaries is super important when it comes to being more intentional. Remember that “no” is a complete sentence. No ifs, and, or buts. Being firm with your boundaries will help you choose how to spend your time and energy more carefully. “It is fine to refuse things that do not match your goals or values, even if others might feel let down,” Beaupre says.

When you act with intention, you focus on what is really important for you and stop doing things that do not help your overall happiness.—MICHELLE BEAUPRE, PHD, LCSW

When you act with intention, you focus on what is really important for you and stop doing things that do not help your overall happiness.

—MICHELLE BEAUPRE, PHD, LCSW

Intentionality isn’t limited to the self. It also applies to our relationships, be either romantic, work, friendly, familial, or otherwise.

To be intentional in relationships means to examine them and determine if it’s serving you and your needs. And if this relationshipisaligned with your goals, how are you contributing to it? How are you showing up for your friend, partner, or co-worker?

The deep questions are tough, eh? But that’s what being intentional is all about! Making purposeful choices to deepen andstrengthen the relationship’sbond and communication. Unsure where to start? Beaupre has some suggestions.

Value Moments Together

“Just because someone is always in your life, doesn’t mean you should ignore how important they are,” says Beaupre. She suggests folks prioritize spendingquality timewith the people they care about. Take your S.O. on a special evening, make a coffee date with a friend, or give your distant family member a call. Just try to show up for them. It shows that “they are important to you, which can help strengthen your relationship,” says Beaupre.

Keep Communication Regular

Keepingcommunicationflowing is vital for maintaining any relationship. “Always try to check in with people you care about and tell them what is happening in your life,” Beaupre recommends. “This can help avoid misunderstandings and make them feel included in your life.”

Keep Learning About Each Other

The number one piece of advice for anyone! Don’t take your relationships for granted. Always make a point to delve deeper into them. “Even if you have known someone for a long time, it does not mean you know everything about them,” says Beaupre. “People always change and grow, so keep trying to learn new things about them and stay close.”

Get to Know Someone Better Through These 50 Questions

We all have goals that we want to accomplish in life—start a business, move up the corporate ladder, become a parent, or write a best-selling novel (bonus points if it gets adapted!). Nothing’s wrong with dreaming big, but doing what it takes to accomplish these goals—and stay motivated in the process—is something else.

Adding more intentionality into your life is a great way to work toward a life goal. Research has found that adopting a goal-setting mindset can effectively change behaviors like becoming more physically active or adhering to a healthier diet.

One effective method for being more intentional with goal setting is theSMART approach, which stands for:

How does the SMART approach help with goal achievement? Well, according to Beaupre, it’s quite simple…

Specific

Make sure you are clear and specific about your goals. “This helps give you a target to aim at and makes checking progress easier,” says Beaupre. “Knowing exactly what you want to achieve can help you stay motivated and intentional.”

Measurable

Have a method of progress. It’ll keep you on track, plus motivate you to stay focused. Beaupre suggests using time, numbers, or other clear markers as progress points. “For example, if your goal is to exercise more, you can set a measurable target like doing a workout three times in one week for 30 minutes each time,” she says.

Attainable

“It is nice to push yourself with targets, but it’s important these are realistic and possible,” Beaupre advises. “Begin with small, reachable goals and slowly make them harder as you get better.”

Relevant

Your goals should match your values andlife purpose. “It is simpler to stay focused and driven when you are aiming for something that means a lot to you,” Beaupre says. “Take some moments to think about what is important to you and what motivates you deeply, then make goals based on that.”

Time-Bound

“A goal without a deadline is just a wish,” says Beaupre. Implementing a clear timeline for goal setting can bring some ”good pressure” into your life and push you in the right direction to get things done. “Break big goals into small, doable steps with due dates, so you get a clear plan to follow,” Beaupre adds.

Of course, SMART isn’t the only approach for becoming intentional with your goals. In fact, Zeller recommends the following options:

The Bottom Line

Being more intentional means being more present, mindful, and focused. It’s about taking a more of active role in your day-to-day decisions and getting rid of that “whatever” attitude. Time to think before you act and live a life based on a clear-headed plan (with goals in place!). No more back-seat driving—you’re in charge now.

When a Therapist and Life Coach Spill the Tea

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antusch, S., Aarts, H., & Custers, R. (2019).The role of intentional strength in shaping the sense of agency.Frontiers in Psychology,10, 1124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01124Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021).Does time management work? A meta-analysis.PLOS ONE,16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066Nelis, S. M., Thom, J. M., Jones, I. R., Hindle, J. V., & Clare, L. (2018).Goal-setting to promote a healthier lifestyle in later life: Qualitative evaluation of the agewell trial.Clinical Gerontologist,41(4), 335–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2017.1416509

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antusch, S., Aarts, H., & Custers, R. (2019).The role of intentional strength in shaping the sense of agency.Frontiers in Psychology,10, 1124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01124Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021).Does time management work? A meta-analysis.PLOS ONE,16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066Nelis, S. M., Thom, J. M., Jones, I. R., Hindle, J. V., & Clare, L. (2018).Goal-setting to promote a healthier lifestyle in later life: Qualitative evaluation of the agewell trial.Clinical Gerontologist,41(4), 335–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2017.1416509

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Antusch, S., Aarts, H., & Custers, R. (2019).The role of intentional strength in shaping the sense of agency.Frontiers in Psychology,10, 1124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01124Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021).Does time management work? A meta-analysis.PLOS ONE,16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066Nelis, S. M., Thom, J. M., Jones, I. R., Hindle, J. V., & Clare, L. (2018).Goal-setting to promote a healthier lifestyle in later life: Qualitative evaluation of the agewell trial.Clinical Gerontologist,41(4), 335–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2017.1416509

Antusch, S., Aarts, H., & Custers, R. (2019).The role of intentional strength in shaping the sense of agency.Frontiers in Psychology,10, 1124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01124

Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021).Does time management work? A meta-analysis.PLOS ONE,16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066

Nelis, S. M., Thom, J. M., Jones, I. R., Hindle, J. V., & Clare, L. (2018).Goal-setting to promote a healthier lifestyle in later life: Qualitative evaluation of the agewell trial.Clinical Gerontologist,41(4), 335–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2017.1416509

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