Every first of the month I like to sit down and think about my intentions for that month. I write them down and keep them somewhere visible during that month to ensure I’m keeping up with my intentions. Being fully transparent, I don’t always accomplish all of my intentions so the first thing I do when setting intentions for the following month is to go through the ones from the previous month. If there’s a few that I can move up to the following month I will. I’m trying to practice giving myself some grace and understanding that it’s okay if not everything gets accomplished at once. All of this is to say that if you find you couldn’t go through with all intentions, it’s okay! And now I’m going to walk you through the ultimate guide to setting intentions that stick.
Take the Time to Set Intentions
First and foremost, sit down and think about what intentions you’d like to set for the month. It can be anything from making the bed every morning to going for walks during your lunch break. Nothing is too big or small, it just has to be what you need at this time. Don’t rush these though. Really think about what you’d like to accomplish this upcoming month and what small things you can do to get there. Then write them down and keep them somewhere visible so you don’t forget about them!
Be Mindful About Your Intentions
Sometimes we’re so ready to make changes and improve our lives that we just want to set tons of goals and intentions and quickly realize we added too much to our plate. In order to avoid doing that, be mindful about the intentions you set. There is no number of intentions you need to set every month. It could be one, five, ten or more. As long as you feel you can stick with them without them causing you stress, you’re golden. There’s no point in setting intentions that will create more anxiety to complete them than the actual action of following through with them. For example, let’s say you want to read more. You can set yourself an intention to read 10 pages a day or perhaps a chapter a day. However, unless you have lots of time or a very short book, setting an intention of reading a book per day might be too much. Slow and steady wins the race, remember that.
Grab a Pen and Paper
For intentions to be truly successful, you’ll need to write them down and keep them somewhere visible. You can simply write them on a piece of paper or you can have fun with it and design your intention sheet. I’ve seen some really beautiful ones on Pinterest and Instagram and I really wish I was more artistically blessed but alas, that is not the case. I still try though, not because I think it’ll look anything like the ones on Pinterest but because I genuinely enjoy the time I take to set my intentions. Plus, that way I’m even more committed to having it somewhere visible. That’s the key. You’ll need that constant reminder so you can check in with yourself every day and make sure you’re sticking to those intentions. Make sure to place that paper somewhere you know for a fact you’ll see it every day.
Get Accountability if Needed
I firmly believe in the power of accountability to get things done. Whether it’s a workout accountability buddy or an intention accountability buddy, it’s always helpful to have someone to help you out. This step is totally optional, however I do think a guide to setting intentions that stick should include accountability. If your intentions are very personal you don’t have to share them with your accountability buddy, however you can tell them you’ve set X amount of intentions and need their help staying accountable. They can text you every day to remind you to check in with yourself and your intentions. It works even better if your accountability buddy is also setting some intentions so you can help each other out.
I hope you found this ultimate guide to setting intentions that stick helpful. Now go ahead and grab your pen and paper and get to working on this month’s intentions. Best of luck and remember, if you don’t stick to all of them by end of month, it’s okay! Just try again the following month.
