47 micro intentions
tiny shifts, big impact!
When I started this email list in November, I had an introduction post that explained how I stumbled into intentionality. Intentionality has become an ingrained part of my life that sometimes I don’t realize what I’m doing is intentional. When searching my brain for the next topic for this newsletter, I realized I had so many *tiny* things I did — small habits that wouldn’t be worth writing an entire email about. But when I add those micro-intentions together, it suddenly turns me into an intentional person.
Who doesn’t love a good list? I certainly do. Today I’m sharing 47 small intentions that you could start today to begin your journey to a more intentional, vibrant life. MOST of these are an easy pivot to make (#22, #27, #36) while a handful are a little more involved (#9 and #45). I’ve broken it down into these categories: money, health, media, sustainability community, and general. Many fit multiple categories, though. I’ll indicate overlaps with emojis! 👍 Let’s go!
MONEY 💰
Check in on your subscriptions at least twice a year and cancel any that are no longer worth it.
Don’t buy anything from Amazon unless you go over the $35 shipping minimum (thus negating the need for Amazon Prime)
Keep $1000 cushion in your checking account at all times. $1000 should equal $0 in your mind for your checking balance.
Use your library for 90% of your books, TV, and movie entertainment. (🌎)
Use a budgeting app. We use Everydollar.
Buy used smartphones on Gazelle. (🌎)
Spend 15 minutes once a month tracking your net worth.
Pay your kids commissions for housework they complete. Teach them how to give, save, spend, and invest.
HEALTH 💖
If you can walk instead of drive, walk. (🌎💰)
Pack salads and snacks when you know you’ll be home late. (🌎💰)
Bring a reusable water bottle everywhere. (🌎💰)
Walk around your house or up and down the stairs on a sedentary day.
Walk during your kid’s soccer practice instead of sitting and scrolling.
Stand/walk during halftime or in between quarters of sporting events.
Do Kegels at red lights.
Open the blinds in the morning. Get as much natural light as possible in your home. (🌎💰)
Opt for a clean, toxin-free deodorant. (🌎)
Swap out candles for essential oils. (🌎)
Drink a glass of water before eating or drinking anything else in the morning.
Use the stairs instead of elevators or escalators.
Park far away from the store.
Stand in the sunlight streaming through a window when you need a quick refresh.
MEDIA 📴
Turn off all notifications other than phone calls and texting.
Delete Facebook from your phone.
Keep your phone outside of your bedroom at night. (💖)
Mute commercials.
Bring a book to appointments, the school pick-up line, or when you know you’ll have to wait somewhere.
Upload pictures from your phone onto your computer once a month and delete duplicates to avoid digital clutter.
Use the “Reminders” app to set daily/weekly/monthly goals.
Use the “Notes” app to keep track of things: miles ran, weekly weigh-in, gift ideas, bucket list, weight-lifting numbers
Keep only emails that need attention in your primary inbox. Delete or file ones you don’t need or won’t need to reference for a while.
Curate an evening playlist to match your wind-down vibe. Mine is nutmeg + cloves.
SUSTAINABILITY 🌎
Reuse sandwich bread bags, tortilla/taco bags, and produce bags as dog poop bags. (💰)
Re-use glass jars to pack snacks or store leftovers. (💰)
Turn the heat down when you leave the house. (💰)
Keep grocery bags in the trunk of your car so you always have them when you go to the store. (👍)
Have a donation corner/box/shelf in your house and empty it once a month. (👍)
Combine errands. Go to the gym when you drop off your kids. Go to the grocery store after the haircut. Try to make singular errands very rare. (💰)
Invest in reusable cloth napkins instead of using paper napkins or paper towels. (💰)
Re-purpose old t-shirts and dishtowels as rags. (💰)
Buy wrapping paper at garage sales or thrift stores. Or use newspapers. (💰)
COMMUNITY 👩
Use someone’s name when speaking to them. It’s surprisingly refreshing and friendly.
Send a text when you think of someone. When you think something good, say it.
GENERAL 👍
Get a fire-safe box and put all important documents in it: birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, will, and letters to loved ones in the event of an untimely death.
If a task takes less than one minute, do it now.
Create a “done list” at the end of the day to celebrate what you accomplished.
If you’d like some books to get your butt in gear and collect more inspiration, I’ll recommend these titles:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits by Gretchen Rubin
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
And if you read #5, you’ll know how to obtain these books. But if you want to own them, click the links, and it’ll help me out in the teeniest, tiniest, way.
If you don’t feel very intentional and the entire list feels a little overwhelming to you, choose one. Just one new habit. Or pick a category and choose a handful of new habits. Remember, something is always better than nothing!
Now I’m off to do #47 because I’ve had a long to-do list this week with more left over for next week. It’s time to celebrate what I accomplished! Have a great week!
Ashley
This week I’ve really been into walks!! While I actually *loved* this winter with all the cozy cold and snow days, it’s been a joy to get out and walk in the sunshine again! It’s felt refreshing and energizing. Who wants to go for a walk with me?!
