Living intentionally gets a lot of hype, but for me, it’s less about overhauling my entire lifestyle and more about making small shifts that actually stick.
It’s not about doing things perfectly. It’s about understanding how I work — how I think, move, avoid, procrastinate, and grow — and tweaking the little things so that life flows more easily.
I’m constantly experimenting with ways to support myself better, whether that’s moving a supplement to a different cabinet or turning my laptop password into a daily affirmation.
Some of these habits might seem oddly specific. Some might sound kind of ridiculous. But all of them serve a purpose: they help me move through life with a little more ease, clarity, and momentum.
Here’s a peek into the random but intentional things I do to make life work better for me. Take what clicks, leave what doesn’t, and maybe let it inspire you to do things your own way, too.
What’s On Deck:
Subtle Mindset Shifts That Stack Up Over Time
1. Make your passwords affirmations or goal reminders
I made my laptop password an affirmation. So now, every time I log in, I’m reminding myself of what I want most. It’s such a small thing, but when you type it out multiple times a day, it sinks in — fast.
Here’s how I do it: pick a short affirmation sentence, then use the first letter of every word in that sentence as your password (add numbers or symbols if needed for security).
Examples
Do not use these verbatim! They’re simply ideas.
| Phrase | Password/Pin |
| I am healthy and wealthy | Iahaw OR 4249 |
| Money flows to me frequently and effortlessly | $ftmFae |
| I desire my desires | Idmd OR 4363 |
| I am beautiful, worthy, and lovable | Iab-w&L |
It’s a subtle reprogramming tool and a tech-savvy move — a win-win.
And yes, I know you could just use Face ID or a thumbprint. But convenience is the theft of ingenuity.
Just because it’s easier doesn’t mean it’s more beneficial. You’re going to unlock your laptop and phone hundreds of times a week anyway — might as well make that repetition work in your favor.
I don’t do this for every password (that would be chaotic), but choosing the two pieces of tech I use the most helps me integrate new affirmations into my subconscious without even trying.
2. Build new habits into your existing flow
I wanted to start taking a gummy supplement daily — lung and sinus support — but I’d never taken gummies consistently before and knew I’d forget. So I put them in the same cabinet where I keep my dog’s supplements.
Why? Because I feed my dog first thing in the morning before I do anything else. That habit is already solid. Now I grab my gummy while giving Rocky his. Done. Easy. No extra steps.
The rest of my vitamin routine is at night, but eating a gummy after I brush my teeth? That felt like a gross combination. So I separated them.
Instead of forcing myself into a totally new routine, I just worked the new habit into one that already existed. No resistance. No forgetting.
Related: Creating an Intentional Life — One Small Decision at a Time
Making Movement Work for Me (Even When It Changes)
3. Know what you’re training for
Growing up, I trained to compete. I played volleyball for years — from trying to make the 1s team to becoming a state champ to joining club teams in college. And when I graduated and stepped away from the sport, it left a huge void.
It wasn’t just about missing volleyball. It was about not knowing why to move anymore. There wasn’t a goal to train for. No matches, no competitions, no PRs. I didn’t realize at the time how much I needed a compelling “why” to stay consistent with movement.
That’s something I’ve seen play out over and over. When people don’t have a reason — an actual reason that matters to them — they flake. And I was no different.
Over the years, my “why” has shifted:
- After college, I turned to CrossFit to get back into feeling strong
- These days, CrossFit feels too intense, and my knees are still mad about all those years of diving onto hardwood floors with paper-thin kneepads
So now? I’m doing Pilates. It’s low impact, highly intentional, and still super challenging. It’s the first time in a while that movement has felt like something I look forward to again.
4. Choose goals that make you laugh (but still get you moving)
My current why?
To be able to hold a full pot of water with my non-dominant arm.
Yes. Really.
I cook a lot of pasta, and trying to fill a pot of water and carry it from sink to stove with my left arm used to feel like a joke. But now? That’s my strength benchmark.
- Can I hold the pot steady?
- Can I keep it from spilling?
- Can I do it without switching hands halfway through?
It might sound ridiculous, but here’s why it works:
- It’s tangible. I’ll 100% know when I’ve made progress
- It directly relates to something I actually do all the time
- It keeps me from relying too heavily on comparison-based metrics (like lifting 5 more pounds or doing X reps)
Progress feels more real when you set goals that you’ll actually see show up in your daily life. This one tiny goal helped me stay more consistent with my workouts than anything else in the last few years — all because it felt real and doable for me.
It’s not about chasing someone else’s version of strength. It’s about making daily life easier and more fun.
Environment Tweaks That Help Me Feel Better
5. Let your surroundings support you
You don’t need to reinvent your life from scratch to feel more in control. Sometimes, you just need to move things around.
It sounds overly simple, but the truth is: if the thing you want to do is easier to see or reach, you’re more likely to follow through. When your physical environment supports your goals, it reduces friction. You don’t have to rely on motivation or remember everything — it’s just there.
Here are a few examples of how I do this in my own life:
- I keep my tennis racket in plain sight. I’m working on getting back into tennis, and having my racket out where I can see it — leaning near the back door or tucked behind a chair — acts like a nudge every time I walk past. It’s not tucked away in a closet where I’ll forget about it for months. It’s in my line of sight. That visual cue alone helps me stay connected to the sport I’m slowly returning to.
- I put my skincare tools next to my bed. I love red light therapy, but let’s be real — if I have to get out of bed to go grab it from the bathroom, it’s probably not happening. So I made it easier: I keep my Solawave red light therapy wand on my nightstand. That way, I can reach over, grab it, and use it while I’m winding down without interrupting my cozy nighttime flow.
- If you want to take more photos, put your camera where you’ll see it. Whether it’s your DSLR, a film camera, or even your Polaroid — keep it by your TV, on your dresser, or somewhere you pass daily. Seeing it out in the open reminds you of the desire to document more of your life. It shifts the habit from a passing thought to an active invitation.
Bottom line: make your environment reflect the life you’re trying to build.
If something feels hard to follow through on, don’t blame your discipline. Look at your setup. Sometimes the solution isn’t deeper willpower — it’s just better organization.
Make Your Life Work For You
None of these little shifts are revolutionary. But they work — because they were built for me. That’s the whole point.
The hardest part is usually just starting. So I remove one barrier — any barrier — and make it easier to begin.
You don’t have to overhaul your entire life to start living more intentionally. You just have to notice what’s not working and try something small that might work instead.
If it feels silly, but it works — it’s not silly.
Want to try this for yourself?
Here’s a quick prompt to get you going:
What’s one small habit you’ve been trying to start, and what’s something you already do every day that it could piggyback off of?
Stack it. Shift it. Simplify it. That’s the magic.
[…] Related: Random Things I Do to Make Life Work Better for Me […]