10 Fresh Mindset Habits to Being Intention and Not Just Being

When was the last time you truly felt alive, not just existing?

Do you feel you are living with intention or just living until the end of the day, and then rinse and repeat tomorrow?

In a world constantly nudging us to do more, be more, and keep up with everything at once, it's easy to drift into a life of simply existing.

We are just trying to get all the shit done, in the limited time frame we have.

We go through the motions each and everyday. We work, eat, sleep, scroll, email and shop, without ever truly asking: Am I living on purpose, or am I just getting through the day?

Intentional living is not about having a perfect plan or controlling every moment. It's not about making every day purely exhilarating, as that simply isn’t the reality of life. We all have responsibilities, with mundane and boring stuff we need to do, regardless of whether we want to or not.

But intentionally living is different.

So, what is it?

It’s about making deliberate choices that reflect your values, goals, and energy. It’s the difference between reacting and responding, between drifting and directing.

It’s consciously thinking about what we need to do, evaluating its worth, and prioritizing some activities over others.

Now, this isn’t some discipline that requires years of practice in a meditating jungle setting. Quite the opposite. It is small actions we can all make for surprisingly impactful and rewarding changes and improvements to our lives.

Being intentional isn’t something you’re born with. It really is something you can practice and develop each day. Through small mindset shifts, you can start reclaiming your time, energy, and focus. You can create a life that feels more aligned and less automatic.

Below are 10 fresh mindset habits to help you live intentionally, without needing to quit your job, move to a cabin in the woods, or become a productivity guru. Just practical, doable changes that help you show up fully in your own life.

1. Understand your ‘why’ before your ‘what’

Do we ever stop to wonder why we do things, or do we just get cracking and get them done so we can move on to the next task?

Many people start their day with a to-do list, but rarely do they pause to ask why those tasks matter. Intentionality begins with understanding the purpose behind your actions.

When you know your ‘why’, whether it’s growth, connection, creativity, or stability, you start making decisions that align with your deeper values and identifying which actions contribute value to your life.

Again, we can’t just ignore stuff we don’t need or want to do, but it does help us to make small changes.

Without this awareness, you risk chasing goals that don’t belong to you. Maybe you’re grinding for a promotion that doesn’t reflect your actual ambitions, or saying yes to social events out of obligation, not joy.

Your ‘why’ is your inner compass. It helps you prioritize, say no with confidence, and stop drifting.

So, I want you to start reflecting on three questions: What do I want more of in my life? What do I want less of? When do I feel most alive?

Let the answers guide your choices. You might find that fewer tasks get done, but the right ones will. And that’s the whole point of being intentional.

2. Identify what drains or fuels your energy

You only have limited time and limited energy. So, we have to find the right balance to make the most of ourselves and the day.

Sure, our time is limited, but energy is what determines how well you use it. Most people don’t notice what activities energize or deplete them until burnout hits. Living intentionally means becoming aware of these patterns.

Think about your day. Which parts light you up, and which leave you feeling flat or frazzled? Maybe brainstorming excites you, but long meetings exhaust you. Maybe a morning walk gives you a spark, but scrolling on your phone leaves you feeling dull. When you know what fuels you, you can do more of it. When you know what drains you, you can set boundaries or build in recovery.

Start tracking your energy levels during the day. This involves a quick check-in every few hours. You’ll quickly spot trends. Use this data to adjust your schedule, swap or delegate tasks where possible, and plan rest before you hit the wall.

Intentional living means managing your energy, not just your time. You’re not a machine to be optimized. You’re a human to be cared for. You aren’t a car that can live on maximum revs all day. Eventually, the engine will burn out.

We have to be more thoughtful and calculated in how we use our energy to achieve the greatest output and impact.

3. Educate, don’t just entertain yourself

Recently, I listened to a podcast that stated that the average human spends four hours a day scrolling through their phone. This jolted me.

Now, I’m not one for great scrolling, and in fact, I have zero Instagram posts, but I still try to make a conscious effort to scroll less. In the past year, I have started borrowing books from the library and enjoy reading these not only as a way of escape, but also to learn. I try to find a mix of books that relax me, and some that teach me in some form or another, be it focused on self-help, motivational, growth and even business books. I have swapped music for podcasts when I exercise and watch educational videos instead of random entertainment.

Now I’m not saying this to brag. Quite the opposite. It is my simple choice. I am not judging how people spend their time. With the stresses of work, everyone deserves down time and it has a valid place in mental health and general de-stressing.

The message I am getting out is a personal observation only. I have found this approach in recent months to be better for my mental health and have found I am learning and growing more. Sure, I still watch mindless shows to have a break from reality, but I’m trying to limit it.

So let’s explore this further.

How you spend your downtime shapes who you become. While entertainment is a necessary part of rest and relaxation, it’s easy to let it dominate your life. Trust me, I know. Hours vanish into social media rabbit holes, random shows, and endless scrolling.

Intentional living invites you to be more selective. It is not solely entertainment-based, but places a greater focus on educational, self-growth and personal development. Use the time to improve yourself.

Use time wisely to grow yourself. Read books that challenge your thinking or fuel your interests. Watch educational videos or documentaries. Take courses that help you develop new skills or deepen existing ones.

Is your downtime feeding your growth or just filling time?

You don’t need to give up Netflix forever, but be honest about your habits. What would 30 minutes of reading daily do for your mindset over a year? What insights or opportunities might come from swapping just one show for a TED talk or podcast?

Intentional people consume with purpose. Many top leaders in industry use their time to grow and invest in themselves. They choose inputs that build them up, rather than just numb them out. I think there is something to be learnt from this.

When you educate yourself, you elevate yourself, and that’s always time well spent.

4. Be aware of when you're numbing, not living

I’m going to shift tact a bit here, so stick with me.

Unlike the previous habit, which focuses on intentionally choosing growth-oriented content, this habit is about recognizing when you’re using passive distractions to avoid discomfort.

Numbing often shows up as zoning out, overindulging, or mindlessly repeating behaviors that help you escape but don’t actually serve you.

We all do it. We reach for the remote, scroll endlessly or eat when we’re not hungry, because facing feelings can be hard. But intentional living requires us to ask if the break is an escape, a relief or avoidance.

The difference is subtle but powerful.

To live with intention, you must be able to sit with discomfort, acknowledge your feelings, and meet your needs with care, not just convenience. Rest is essential. So is pleasure. But numbing leaves you emptier, not fuller.

Next time you default to a distraction, pause and evaluate how you are feeling and what do you actually need. check in. Maybe it’s movement, connection, expression, or quiet. Whatever it is, choose it consciously.

Numbing keeps you comfortable. Awareness moves you forward.

5. Plan your day around your intentions, not your tasks

How do you plan and prioritize your day?

Most people plan their day based on urgency and habit. They check emails, attend meetings, and tick boxes. But what if you changed your approach? What if your day was built around intentions rather than just tasks?

Again, I know that there are certain tasks that can’t be ignored. The dog needs to be walked, the clothes washed, meetings to attend, kids to be drive around and shopping to be done. I get it. But can we make small tweaks for improvement?

Intentional planning involves asking yourself how you want to feel and the impact you want to have each and every day.

From there, you can schedule activities that support that vision. If you want to feel energized, maybe you prioritize exercise or creative work early. If connection is your intention, you make time for a proper lunch with a friend. It's about planning the important blocks first so they aren’t lost in the general madness and demands of the day.

This doesn’t mean ignoring responsibilities but instead filtering them through a lens of purpose. You can still do the dishes, answer emails, and attend meetings, but they no longer define your day.

Try starting your day with a simple prompt: Today, I intend to... Keep it short and real. Then build your schedule around that feeling. The difference may surprise you.

Tasks keep you busy. Intentions make your day meaningful.

6. Shift from reacting to responding

Is it better to react or respond? I’ll let you decide.

In essence, it is a mindset.

Yes, we can plan all we want, and yes, unexpected challenges come our way, but there are some aspects of the day we can choose our reaction.

We often spend our days in reaction mode, including replying to messages, jumping at notifications, or scrambling to fix things. This reactivity pulls us away from what matters most. It keeps us on edge and out of alignment.

Responding, by contrast, is a conscious act. It means creating space between stimulus and action. It’s the difference between snapping at someone in frustration and calmly expressing your needs. Between saying yes out of habit and pausing to consider whether it aligns with your goals.

In simple terms, it is the old “Count to ten before you respond”. Why should we do this and how do we do it, besides the obvious, of course.

To build this habit, practice slowing down. Take a breath before replying to a message. Count to ten before giving an answer. Create mini-pauses throughout your day to check in with yourself.

This isn’t about being passive or slow. It’s about being deliberate. When you choose your responses instead of being ruled by your reactions, you regain your sense of agency.

Intentional people don’t get less done, they just do the right things, in the right way.

7. Trade urgency for importance

Shit comes in your direction every minute or every day. This isn’t going to change, so let’s see if there is a better way of dealing with it.

Not everything that screams for your attention is worth your time. It may be worth someone else’s time, but not necessarily yours. Many people spend their days chasing urgency. They frantically respond to emails, put out fires or react to whatever feels loudest or who shouts the most. But urgency isn’t always importance. In fact, it often distracts you from it.

Intentional living means prioritizing what truly matters, even if it isn’t shouting at you. It means determining what matters today, next week, or month and whether it is aligned with your long-term goals or just a knee-jerk reaction.

Start by identifying one important task each day that reflects your bigger picture. It could be a creative project, a workout, a conversation or simply a moment of stillness. Protect that time like it matters, because it does for your own well-being.

You can’t eliminate urgency entirely. Life happens. But you can choose not to be ruled by it. Every time you prioritize importance over immediacy, you invest in a life of depth, not just motion.

8. Focus on impact, not activity

We can all be busy, but it doesn’t always mean we are effective or productive. Running around like a headless goose doesn’t get you anywhere.

Busy doesn’t mean effective. Many people equate a full schedule with a successful day. But intentional living isn’t about doing more and focuses on doing what matters.

Focusing on impact helps you evaluate the value of activities and the potential results they can produce. Impact could relate to personal growth, creative output, relationship depth, or simply a peaceful state of mind.

One powerful way to shift your mindset is to review your day not by what you did, but by what it meant. Did your actions move you forward? Did they reflect your values? Or were you just keeping busy to feel productive?

This shift may mean doing fewer things that carry more meaning. It’s assigning quality over quantity, depth over breadth.

Intentionality isn’t about how many things you tick off. It’s about choosing actions with lasting significance.

9. Cultivate a ‘less but better’ attitude

"Work smarter, not harder". This is the concept that is the focus of many self-development and business books. So let’s explore it.

More isn’t always better. In fact, chasing more options, more goals, or more stuff often leads to overwhelm and emptiness. For some people, there is never enough more to make them satisfied and happy. Just because we do and accumulate more doesn’t equate to happiness. In many cases, it’s quite the opposite.

Intentional living invites us to do the opposite. It gets us to choose less, but to make it better.

This could mean owning fewer clothes but loving each piece. Setting fewer goals but deeply committing to them. Spending time with fewer people but building richer connections. And my favorite: working less hours at work but making them more productive. Especially cancelling time-wasting meetings.

‘Less but better’ is about depth, clarity, letting go of the fear that you’re missing out, and embracing the truth that you’re choosing wisely. It’s about using your time wisely, with intent, productivity, and greater output as the focus.

This concept gets you to examine what you are doing out of habit or pressure and what would happen if you simplified these tasks. It’s like a mini spring-clean of your diary. Start small—one drawer, one commitment, one belief.

When you edit your life with intention, you create space for creativity, rest, joy, growth and what is important to you and your values.

10. Be intentional with your attention

As we have said, not everything deserves the same level of attention. Some things actually require no attention at all.

Attention is your most precious resource. Where it goes, your life flows. Yet it’s pulled constantly by ads, apps, and other people’s agendas.

Living intentionally means protecting your attention to what is really important. Start by noticing where your attention goes without you realizing. Is it Instagram? Email? Worrying? Complaining?

Then, gently redirect it. Choose where to look. What to listen to. What to care about.

You can’t control everything, but you can control where your focus goes. Make it a conscious act. Every moment you notice and redirect your attention, you strengthen your capacity to live on purpose.

Your attention creates your experience. Guard it. Direct it. Honor it.

Because how you live your minutes is how you live your life.