Feeling overwhelmed? These 10 intentional living tips will help you slow down, take control of your time, and start living with more purpose and peace.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of running on autopilot. Wake up, scroll, work, eat, repeat. Days blur together, and before we know it, months fly by while we’re stuck in survival mode.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Is this really how I want to live?” you’re not alone.

That’s where intentional living comes in.

In this post, I’m sharing 10 practical and simple intentional living tips that helped me go from burnt out to balanced. No pressure to be perfect, just real steps that actually make life feel better.

What Is Intentional Living, Anyway?

Intentional living isn’t about throwing away your phone or moving to the mountains. It’s about making daily choices that line up with what matters most to you.

It’s saying no to distractions and yes to what actually adds value, whether that’s more rest, more clarity, or more time with the people you love.

1. Start Your Day Without Your Phone

I know. This one’s hard. But hear me out.

The first few minutes of your day set the tone for everything else.

If your brain starts off in reactive mode, checking messages, emails, and everyone else’s life, you’re not starting your day. You’re stepping into someone else’s.

Try this instead:

• Stretch or pray before reaching for your phone
• Drink water and open the blinds
• Write one intention for the day in a notebook
• Even 10 tech-free minutes can create space for more peace and less noise.

2. Create a “Don’t Do” List

We’re all obsessed with to-do lists. But what about the things we shouldn’t be doing?

One of my favorite intentional living tips is to make a list of things that drain you, distract you, or don’t align with where you’re going.

Here are a few examples:

• Saying yes when I want to say no
• Scrolling mindlessly at night
• Overbooking my weekends

Once you see your energy leaks on paper, it’s easier to guard your time.

3. Simplify One Area of Your Life Each Month

Don’t try to declutter your whole life in one weekend. Pick one area and simplify.

Some ideas:

• Clean out your closet and donate what you never wear
• Cancel subscriptions you forgot you had
• Declutter your phone apps
• Organize your pantry

Each little change adds breathing room, and less clutter = less stress.

4. Schedule White Space

You know how we block out meetings, workouts, and appointments?

Block out nothing too.

Add literal white space to your calendar, even 30 minutes a day to do… whatever. Rest. Reflect. Breathe. Think.

White space isn’t lazy. It’s necessary. Your brain needs time to recharge, not just run.

5. Eat Without Distractions

No phone. No laptop. No multitasking.

Just you, your food, and maybe a real human being.

It might sound small, but slowing down during meals can reconnect you with your body, improve digestion, and give your mind a break.

Try it once a day and see how different you feel.

6. Define Your Version of Success

You’ll never live intentionally if you’re chasing someone else’s dream.

So, pause and ask:

• What does a good day look like for me?
• What do I want more of?
• What do I want to feel at the end of each week?

Write it down. Read it often. Let it guide your choices.

7. Say No Without Explaining

You don’t need a 3-paragraph excuse to say no.

If something doesn’t align with your values, energy, or season of life, you’re allowed to pass, kindly and firmly.

A simple:

“Thanks for thinking of me, but I can’t commit right now.”

Or “That doesn’t work for me, but I hope it goes well!”

That’s it. Your peace is worth protecting.

8. Make Time for Joy on Purpose

When life gets full, fun is the first thing to disappear.

But fun is fuel. So, plan it in. Seriously, put joy on your calendar like it’s a meeting you can’t miss.

Ideas:

• Mid-week coffee with a friend
• Friday night movie solo or with your crew
• 10 minutes of dancing while folding laundry

You’re not too busy to enjoy life. You’re allowed to prioritize fun again.

9. Do a Weekly Reset

Intentional living isn’t about being perfect every day. It’s about noticing when things feel off and getting back to center.

Here’s a simple weekly reset I use:

• Clean out my inbox
• Review upcoming events
• Write down 3 things I’m grateful for
• Choose 1 area to simplify next week

It takes 15 minutes, and it helps me start Monday with clarity, not chaos.

10. Celebrate Slow Progress

Most of us are wired to chase results. But real change? It’s quiet. It’s slow. It builds over time.

If you:

• Said no to one thing that didn’t serve you
• Cooked dinner instead of ordering out again
• Took a walk without checking your phone…

That’s progress.

Living intentionally is about stacking small wins, not chasing perfection.

Final Thoughts: Intentional Living Isn’t a Trend. It’s a Lifeline.

If life’s been feeling loud, fast, or just… too much, I want you to know this:

You don’t have to keep up. You don’t have to earn your rest. And you don’t have to wait for the “perfect time” to start making better choices.

These intentional living tips aren’t rules. They’re invitations.

To slow down. To breathe deeper. To live on purpose.

Because when you live intentionally, you stop reacting, and start choosing. And that’s when life starts to feel like yours again.