107 Ideas for Intentional Living

What if you decided today to make intentional living your focus?

February tends to be that time of year when our thoughts inevitably turn toward love, romance, and relationships—and sometimes earlier, since most stores start putting out Valentine’s Day-themed merchandise before the Christmas stuff is even off the shelves.

There’s nothing wrong with getting and giving cards, gifts, and flowers, of course. But using the manufactured images and ideas of love that we’re bombarded with to measure our own relationships can lead to some pretty disappointing moments and limit how we view life itself.

What if love is not a feeling so much as it is a way of being?

What if romance is not a sentiment so much as it is a way of living?

What if the relationship that nourishes all other relationships in our lives goes unnoticed and neglected because we don’t even think of it as a relationship at all…the lifelong relationship we have with ourselves?

We spend a great deal of our lives tending to relationships. Our hearts can hold many bonds that give our lives meaning, such as being spouses, friends, significant others, parents, children, siblings, and the list goes on.

Unless we’re intentional about making time for ourselves, there usually isn’t much left over to call our own.

Sometimes feeling guilty or selfish for wanting time to ourselves makes taking “me time” difficult. But remember the wise words of flight attendants everywhere: you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.

The good news is that even just an hour a week can make a big difference, and there are lots of ways to take care of yourself that don’t cost much, if any, money. If child care is an issue, consider coordinating with other parents, not only to share child care duties but to learn from each other as well. Chances are there are other parents in your area that are eager to connect and have lots of experience and knowledge to share.

Taking time for yourself doesn’t mean you have to do it by yourself.

If it’s been a while since you devoted time to yourself or if you’re just not sure where to start, try to remember a time when you were so immersed in what you were doing that time just seemed to stand still. Those are the kinds of activities that can create a sense of well-being.

Many possibilities, 107 to be exact, follow. You may want to jot down any ideas that appeal to you, something you already do, or something new you think might be worth a try. Think long-term and don’t exclude something based on today’s weather or mood.

1. Take a nap
2. Go for a quiet walk or hike
3. Read a good book
4. Exercise
5. Listen to your favorite music (sing along for maximum impact!)
6. Talk with a friend
7. Give or get a hug
8. Take a long warm bath or shower
9. Meditate or pray
10. Spend time with a pet
11. Laugh
12. Get some new plants for your home (thrift shops and neighbors who are PCSing are good sources)
13. Eat a healthy snack
14. Go to a museum or art gallery
15. Cry
16. Go for a bike ride
17. Go to a concert (colleges and universities can be great places to go for free events)
18. Journal about your thoughts and feelings
19. Visit a park
20. Dance
21. Sleep in
22. Take time to do nothing
23. Wake up early
24. Breathe in to relieve any tension in your body and let it go
25. Go to bed early
26. Go for a scenic drive
27. Daydream
28. Try something new
29. Draw or paint
30. Sew something
31. Buy yourself your favorite flowers
32. List your positive attributes
33. Be mindful of your breath for five minutes
34. Visualize your favorite place in nature
35. Attend a support group
36. Write a poem or other creative piece
37. Go to a movie
38. List your successes/accomplishments
39. Stretch out the stress from your muscles
40. Prepare a delicious meal using ingredients from a local farmers market
41. Give thanks for the blessings in your life
42. Browse a thrift shop for bargains
43. Forgive someone, including yourself
44. Trust yourself
45. Clean out a closet
46. Make a list of compliments others have given you
47. Read a positive book, article or blog
48. Learn to crochet or knit
49. Ask for help
50. Watch an inspiring TED talk
51. List your goals for the next five years
52. Try a new herbal tea or coffee flavor
53. Reflect on some enjoyable experiences
54. Find something positive about your day
55. Eat lunch at your favorite restaurant
56. Stand or sit in a confident posture
57. Make a bucket list
58. Greet people with a smile
59. Send a card or letter to someone
60. Call someone you’ve been thinking about
61. Drink plenty of water every day
62. Keep a gratitude journal
63. Notice small things that make you smile
64. Practice deep breathing every day
65. Plant some flowers
66. Play a musical instrument
67. Get a manicure or pedicure
68. Sit in the sun
69. Play a sport or game you enjoy
70. Believe in your decisions
71. Create and write your own life mission statement
72. Create affirmations and read them
73. Write a story about your life
74. Make a collage with words and images that inspire you
75. Put a heating pad on your back
76. Go swimming
77. Play with children
78. Volunteer with a cause you believe in
79. Give encouragement to others
80. Make a budget
81. Try a new recipe
82. Organize a party
83. Go outside and watch the clouds
84. Treat yourself to a massage
85. Get out of the house for a while
86. Take photos of nature
87. Do a puzzle with a lot of pieces
88. Change your hairstyle/color
89. Go to a library
90. Go to church, synagogue, temple or place of worship
91. Write a song
92. Write a letter to God
93. Learn a new language
94. Join a group at your place of worship
95. Paint your nails
96. Make a scrapbook
97. Audition with a local theater group
98. Write a letter to someone who has made your life better and tell them why
99. Blow bubbles
100. Fly a colorful kite
101. Search for a group or event that interests you on meetup.com
102. Go horseback riding or take riding lessons
103. Say “no” when you mean it
104. Have a picnic
105. Listen to a podcast that interests you
106. Watch a documentary
107. What would you add to this list? Share with us in the comments below.

So much about military life is completely unpredictable, and it can seem impossible to plan anything beyond the next meal. But I encourage you to create a plan to devote time for yourself regularly. Whether it’s an hour a day or an hour a week, schedule the time and honor it just as you would any other appointment. You are so worth it!