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Last year, my word of the year was “Fearless”. I had a lot of challenges that I felt were holding me back from my true potential, so I focused on being fearless so I can be bold in my pursuits and face challenges head on.
My word for this year is “Intentional.”
Whether it be in my business, being a mom, in my lifestyle choices, in my diet, or in any other aspect of my life, I found that taking action is not enough. I had to take more intentional actions with my goals.
So what is being intentional all about?
In this post, I will discuss some ways that you can take intentional actions and make intentional choices in your life and business.
We’ll start with the definition. What exactly is intentional action?
Taking intentional actions means focusing more on the result and knowing that the actions you are taking are in line with the result you want to achieve.
Set SMART Goals
For example, one goal I have is to lose weight this year. I’ve tried diets in the past and none have worked that well, I eat healthy regularly, and I do yoga in the morning. While these are all very noble things that may help me maintain a healthy weight or lose a few pounds, they don’t have a specific end result in mind.
A better goal would be, I want to lose 15 pounds by June of this year. I will do that by going on the Keto diet because that has worked for me before, dedicating 2-3 days a week to running a mile, and working on building muscle so I can burn fat more efficiently.
Not only is there a clear set goal and a specific end date, but the plan also breaks down exactly what will work for me and how to accomplish it. It’s a well catered thought out solution with intentional goals to reach it.
Cutting Out Distraction
One great way to be more intentional is to cut out the distractions.
The other day I went out for a run with my 3 year old and took her out to Denny’s for breakfast. A little mommy and me date 🙂
I felt like a really spend quality time with my daughter because I was fully immersed in being with her. I didn’t check my phone or think about other things, the main focus was on her.
Whether it be in parenting or in your business, you must fully immerse yourself in what you are doing.
Benefits of intentional action include:
- Get more done
- Feel like you’ve spent quality time with people
- Learn more from others
- Feeling heard/listened to
- Being productive
- Managing time better
- Seeing better results
Don’t Just Throw Spaghetti On the Wall
While some people suggest “throwing spaghetii on the wall and seeing what sticks” I wonder why you would even waste the energy.
Sure, you may land on the one thing that will work for you after you’ve tried a hundred other things, but is that really efficient?
Not at all.
And it’s not intentional either.
Taking intentional action is about having direction and purpose for each action.
- Learn what you are trying to accomplish, get an understanding of it
- Admit what you don’t know
- Find someone who has done it before and set up a conversation or coaching
- Do more of what works and less of what doesn’t
- Know your end goal and create a plan to get there
Check out my goal planner to break down each goal into easy bite sized peices. Post your goals in a visible place so you can see them each day.
Measure Data and Review Your Actions Frequently
While you may think that you are taking intentional actions towards a goal, how do you know?
- Review your progress on your goals and what actions you took.
- See what worked and what didn’t work.
- Then plan your next intentional action towards doing what works.
If you don’t take some time to review your actions and your progress on your goals, it is easy to get off track and start taking unproductive, unintentional actions.
Keep a journal where you record what you accomplished the previous week. What worked for you, what didn’t, and what can you improve?
Be Consistent
Simple concept.
If you are persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it.
Practicing consistent intentional actions will allow you to be more productive, less distracted, and get value out of every interaction.
