How To Set Daily Intentions + 21 Examples

So often we start our day on autopilot… alarm, get up, shower, eat, brush teeth and so on. Instead, how about we add setting daily intentions to this list?

Setting intentions means you can set the stage for your day, giving you the power to be purposeful about how you live your life today and every day. 

This can be especially helpful for those who focus on others first thing in the morning – your kids, spouse, clients, and co-workers. 

So, before you let your mind go down the rabbit hole and do everything other than thinking about your own needs, this is the ideal time to think about your positive intentions for the day.

What Are Positive Intentions?

Positive intentions are things you plan to do. It’s something you set your mind to and it’s a positive commitment you’re making to yourself.

The definition of intention:

An act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result. The end or object intended; purpose. Intentions, purpose or attitude toward the effect of one’s actions or conduct: a bungler with good intentions.

Source

The Power of Intentions

Practicing daily intentions is a powerful tool you can use in so many areas of your life.

There is truly an endless list of benefits, but here are just a few:

• Setting intentions helps you be in control of your choices every day.
• Daily intentions allow you to make a commitment to yourself, your needs, and your personal goals.
• The habit of setting positive intentions means you can live a life of purpose and bring meaning to your life.
• Intentions support your mental health by giving yourself permission to feel a certain way.
• Positive intentions allow you to live life in the present moment.
• They provide you with a positive mindset even in tough situations
• Intentions support personal growth and goal-setting

How To Set Daily Intentions

Setting intentions should not be difficult. In fact, it should be enjoyable to dedicate time each day to intention setting.

Ask Yourself The Important Questions

The following questions will help you identify the intentions that are important for you to focus on.

• What do you need today to support your happiness?
• What is one thing you can do to get closer to achieving a bigger goal?
• How can you make your life easier today?

These questions will help you decide what positive intentions you can set today.

What Kind of Intentions Can You Set?

Intentions work for all aspects of your life…

• Relationships
• Work
• Mental health
• Physical health
• Spirituality
• Family
• Self Care
• Financial

So when you’re thinking about what intentions you want to set for the day, focusing on the various areas of your life really helps.

Tip: Start small and be realistic. Trying to set too many intentions for the day will only lead to overwhelm. This is not a competition, but a way for you to live a purposeful, meaningful life.

21 Examples of Positive, Daily Intentions

The following examples of intentions will give you an idea of potential daily intentions you can set.

The most important thing is to set clear intentions that are specific, similar to SMART goals (SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), that way you’ll know when you’re actually sticking to them.

For example: Instead of saying “I will be healthy today”, your intention could be “I will try a new recipe today, that is healthy and delicious”.

Let’s jump into some examples.

I intend to:

1. Have a positive mindset in all interactions today
2. Express gratitude to those around me
3. Stick to my schedule
4. Fuel my body with healthy food 
5. Listen to my heart
6. Let go of things that don’t bring me joy
7. Work on my to-do list today
8. Create time for self-care today, even if it’s just for 10 minutes
9. Identify when negative thoughts pop up today so I can understand my triggers
10. Take deep breaths when I feel stressed
11. Do something fun today that brings me joy
12. Be my authentic self today and feel comfortable doing so
13. Get outside in the fresh air today
14. Work on my relationship, starting today
15. Look into a new hobby I can try
16. Write in my journal
17. Declutter my kitchen
18. Speak to myself with kindness
19. Work on my confidence by getting out of my comfort zone today
20. Practice saying no
21. Work towards an important goal

How To Commit to Your Daily Intentions

Write Your Intentions Down

This will help you focus on your intentions and stay committed. 

You can write them in your daily planner, a post-it note attached to the side of your computer monitor, or a note on the kitchen fridge.

Have a 2-minute Check In

It only takes 2 minutes to see if you are staying focused on your intentions for the day.

You can do this by setting a daily alarm on your phone called “Today’s Intentions” or adding a reoccurring meeting to your calendar. 

Then all you need to do is read the intentions that you’ve already written down earlier in the day. You can then reflect on how your progress is going.

I recommend setting this reminder at the same time each day. A good time can be your lunch break, mid-afternoon or early evening.

Share Your Intention with a Friend

By sharing your daily intention with a friend you’re creating accountability. This is also an excellent way for you to support your friend with their daily intentions too!

If you and a friend have similar goals you could even share the same intentions for the day.

Make Intention Setting Part of Your Morning Routine

When you get up in the early morning, why not focus on some meaningful intentions in to start the day off right? 

This will make the intention-setting process that much easier as it will ultimately become a habit you won’t have to actively think about.

Focus On One Specific Intention

When you want to set intentions and are new to the process, the best way to get started is to focus on one intention at a time.

This guiding principle will allow you to start small and work your way up to more than one intention over time.

Final Thoughts:

As you can see, setting daily intentions is a powerful way to create an abundant, meaningful, purpose-driven life.

By looking at intentions one day at a time you have the opportunity to be the master of your destiny – every day.

Sure, things don’t always go to plan, but that’s okay. By having a positive mindset when it comes to intentions you can ultimately create a rich life with daily purpose that continuously gives back to you.

What’s the first daily intention you’d like to set for yourself?

Share in the comments below to inspire others and stay accountable 🙂

Related Intentional Living Resouces:

• 15 Ways To Be Intentional & Live Your Best Life
• How to Live a Life of Purpose with Intentional Living
• 25 Best Ways To Challenge Yourself
• How To Visually Plan For The Future: 6 Ideas