What It Really Means to Live with Intention
You don’t need a perfect morning routine or a 10-step habit stack to live with intention. In fact, the most meaningful shifts usually start with the smallest, most repeatable choices.
It’s not about checking every box on a wellness list. Living with intention simply means paying attention and noticing how you feel or what you need, and choosing actions that support your wellbeing, rather than running on autopilot.
This came up for me recently when a friend posted a question on Instagram:
“How do people get up at 5am to work out or get time for themselves?”
I didn’t answer right away because I had to think about it. I don’t use a trick or a fancy habit stack. I just… go to bed early. And I wake up early. Most mornings, I’m up before 5am because it’s the only time in the day that belongs just to me. Between 5–7am is my chance to move my body, drink my coffee in peace (and without re-heating it a million times before 10am!), or work uninterrupted — before the rest of the house wakes up and life shifts to everyone else’s needs.
But the key is this:
Every night, I make the choice to protect my morning. I decide to go to bed early so I can wake up clear-headed and grounded. On the rare weekend that I stay up too late or slack on sleep hygiene, the whole next day feels chaotic. The kids are up before I’m ready, breakfast is rushed, and I’m short-tempered. It’s not just that I didn’t work out — it’s that I lost the space to breathe before the day took off.
So when I talk about intention, this is what I mean.
It’s not about being rigid or perfect — it’s about knowing what helps you feel like you, and choosing to protect that.
Try This: One Simple Check-In to Start Your Day
Before diving into your day, pause and ask:
“What do I need today — physically, mentally, or emotionally?”
Here’s how it might look:
“I need to move, but gently — I’ll do a walk instead of a hard workout.”
“I need to unplug — no phone until after breakfast.”
“I need to let go of the pressure to do everything today.”
“I need protein at breakfast or I’ll crash and crave coffee and sugar this afternoon.”
That one question can guide one small action — and one small action, done consistently, is how we live with intention.
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters. Start small. Start honest. Start with what you need today.