Intentional Living: 3 Simple Steps for Prioritizing Life

Intentional Living: 3 Simple Steps for Prioritizing Life

Ready to start prioritizing your life with intentional living?

Let’s be real for a second — if your to-do list has 47 items and half of them make you sigh literally out loud, we’ve got a problem.

Not everything on your plate needs to be there. In fact, a lot of it probably shouldn’t be.
Welcome to the art of doing less — not because you’re lazy, but because you’re finally getting clear on what actually matters.

Why Doing Less Is the New Power Move

We live in a world that loves hustle, busyness, and burnout. But the truth… more doesn’t always mean better. More commitments, more noise, more yeses — it’s not impressing anyone, especially not your nervous system.

What is actually more impressive?

Clarity. Boundaries. Living in alignment with what you value and love in life — not what Instagram or your mom’s expectations tell you to care about.

Intentional Living: 3 Simple Steps for Prioritizing Life

Step 1: Identify Your Core Values (Because You Can’t Prioritize What You Don’t Know)

Before you can figure out what to say no to, you’ve got to figure out what you’re a hell yes for.

Ask Yourself:

• What makes me feel most like myself?
• When do I feel the most energized or at peace?
• What would I stand up for, even if it was unpopular?

Your core values are like your inner compass or GPS. Without them, it’s easy to wander through life on autopilot — pouring your time, energy, and emotions into things that don’t reflect who you really are or bring you joy. Even worse? You could end up in a life that doesn’t feel like yours at all, which can be very draining.

The best advice I can give?
Listen to your body and gut. It always knows when something feels right — or when it doesn’t. Start slowly removing what no longer brings you joy to make space for you. If your plate is too full and life feels like a constant rollercoaster or a ball of stress, remember this: stress shouldn’t be your baseline. Life should be manageable, so you can find balance — a sense of home, or homeostasis — within yourself.

For example, in January, I dropped everything in my life except my job — I even hired someone to handle snow removal. I was completely burnt out. So, I rested. And when I started to feel a bit better, I slowly began adding things I love back into my life. That’s when I started living intentionally.

Read more about intentional living tips HERE – 9 Ways to Immediately Simplify Your Life for Burnout Relief

Examples of core values: integrity, connection, freedom, creativity, peace, growth, fun, simplicity, authenticity.

📌 COMING SOON: How to Find Your Core Values and Start Living with Clarity 

Step 2: Learn to Say No (Even When It’s Awkward)

Listen. Saying “no” doesn’t make you mean, flaky, or unreliable — it makes you self-aware. What’s actually unfair is saying yes to something you can’t (or won’t) follow through on. So be honest. Tell it how it is.

If something doesn’t align with your values, it’s not a fit — and that’s all the reason you need.

Try These Phrases:

• “I really appreciate you thinking of me, but I need to focus on [insert your value or goal] right now.”
• “That sounds great, but I have to pass this time so I don’t get too overwhelmed with my schedule.”
• “Honestly? That’s not something I can take on without burning myself out right now — and I’m just not doing that anymore.”

Remember: You don’t owe everyone an explanation. Sometimes “no” is a complete sentence. Period.

As you grow, you naturally outgrow certain people, places, and habits — and that’s not a bad thing. It just means you’re evolving. Letting go doesn’t mean you’re losing everything; it means you’re making room. And often, what comes next are new connections, spaces, and experiences that fuel your growth and meet you where you are now.

📌 COMING SOON: Why Ambitious Women Often Feel Left Out of Friendships — and How to Change That

Step 3: Protect Your Energy Like It’s a Limited Resource (Because It Is)

Every “yes” costs you something: time, energy, focus, sanity. And if you’re running on fumes, even the good things start to feel heavy.

There will always be things you have to do in life — non-negotiables, responsibilities, the musts. But if you look a little closer, there’s often space in between. Space to breathe. Space to protect your energy. You just have to be intentional with how you use it.

Do a Weekly Check-In:

Ask yourself:

• Did I say yes to anything I regret?
• Where did I feel drained this week?
• What commitments brought me joy or purpose?

It’s okay to change your mind, say no, or cancel plans. Not out of guilt, but because you’re growing — and protecting your peace and energy matters. You deserve to feel good. And honestly? It’s good to feel good.

FREE JOURNALING PROMPTS:

Your “Do Less” Clarity Check-In

Take a few quiet minutes. Light a candle. Sip your coffee.

Then sit with these:

• What do I deeply value right now in this season of life?
• Where am I spending energy that doesn’t reflect those values?
• What am I doing just because I feel obligated, guilty, or afraid of letting someone down?
• What small thing can I let go of this week to create more space?
• What does “doing less” actually look like for me — and how would it feel?

You don’t need a life overhaul. You need a little clarity and a lot of grace.

Looking for more journaling prompts? Check these out!

Final Thoughts: Doing Less Isn’t Giving Up — It’s Waking Up

Cutting out the noise isn’t selfish — it’s necessary if it’s what you need to stay sane.

You weren’t made to live in constant go-mode, always proving your worth to people who don’t even know you.

Start doing less of what drains you, and more of what you love — the things that give you energy.

That’s the real glow-up — because life’s too short to spend it exhausted and on autopilot.