How to Set Daily Intentions (and Actually Stick to Them)

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Want to start living with more focus, more soul alignment, and more overflowing fulfillment? Then setting daily intentions is your new bestie. 

When you take the time to set daily intentions, your energy begins to signal “I am present, I am grounded, I am ready to do what I gotta do to be who I wanna be” …what better way to prepare for all the magic you’re manifesting?

In this guide I’ll go over what daily intentions are, how to set them, how to express them, how they work and (here’s the kicker) how to stick to them.

Grab a cup of cacao and let’s dive in!

What is a daily intention?

A daily intention is a statement of what you plan to focus on for the day. These are the things we want to manifest, actions we want to take, mindsets we want to embody, habits we want to stick to, etc. 

It takes a quick moment to clarify, “what is most important to me today?” and then further making the decision to focus on that thing (or things) as you move through your day is the art of intention setting. 

We’ll get into some examples below.

 

How do intentions work? (Reticular Activating System Explained)

You might be thinking, what’s the point of all this? How does daily intention setting even benefit me or help me manifest my goals in life? 

Enter the RAS, or Reticular Activating System. Essentially, this is the place in your subconscious mind that’s responsible for filtering your reality… If you perceive something that doesn’t match your conscious beliefs or thoughts, this system in the brain will automatically delete or filter it out. It’s kind of like that “like attracts like” concept, but more biological.

What does that have to do with daily intentions? Well, the RAS can be used to your advantage. You can choose what filter to put on your brain and program it to bring you info that is relevant to your intention or your goal. You can do this with daily intention setting. 

The more you utilize the power of intention setting, affirmations and positive thinking- the more your brain will show you this in your reality, making it much easier to stick to your intentions and actually manifest your goals. 

It’s pretty powerful when used consistently!

 

How to Set Intentions

I like to think of setting daily intentions as the morning ritual that sets me up for success each day.

To do so, take a quiet moment to reflect on what you’d like to feel, experience or accomplish that day.

If it’s a feeling or experience that is connected to a bigger goal (like, one that you won’t likely achieve on that day), see if you can break that goal down into smaller action steps.

For example, if you want to manifest a successful business- what’s one thing you can do today to get closer to that goal? Or- what’s one skill or habit you can practice that will eventually bring you to that goal? (Example: focus, determination, consistency, perseverance)

Once you’ve identified that, you can set your daily intentions by creating statements that reflect what you’ve discovered. (Example: I intend to remain focused today)

Here are some additional examples below. 

 

Examples of Daily Intentions

Today my intentions are:

• Today I intend to be positive and look for the opportunity or lesson in every challenge. 
• Today I intend to get closer to my business success goal by creating content (or enter something else specific) for my business.
• Today I intend to be a beacon of light for others and remember that I am a healer.
• Today I intend to remain grounded and present- always focused on the present moment and not worried about yesterday or tomorrow. 
• Today I intend to take incredible care of myself, I will practice good physical and spiritual hygiene and move my body.
• Today I intend to feel calm, clear headed and optimistic about the path that I’m on.
• Today I intend to feel healthy, vibrant and full of vitality. I will take actions that align with those things. 
• Today I intend to feel hydrated and nourished. 
• Today I intend to complete the tasks I said I would do today. 
• Today I intend to have an open heart and open mind, knowing that these two things will attract good into my life. 

 

 

Expressing Intentions

Here are a few ways you can formulate your intentions:

• “I have decided that…”
• “I’m going to…”
• “I intend to…”

Here are a few ways you can express your intentions:

• Writing them in your journal (one of my preferred methods)
• Voice/video recording them on your phone (bonus: send it to a friend for accountability!)
• Writing them on a post-it and placing the post-it in a place you will see it throughout the day
• Writing them through the notes app on your phone then taking a screenshot and making that your phone’s wallpaper
• Creating a collage or images that express your intention

It can even be as simple as thinking about your intentions! Thoughts are an expression of you, afterall. 

 

5 Tips for Amplifying the Power of your Intentions

1. Connect to your why

Why did you choose the intention that you chose? Is it because you’re trying to manifest something in your life? Is it because you’re trying to be a better version of yourself? Take a moment to get clear on why you chose that particular intention. This can help make your intentions stronger. 

 

2. Connect to your purpose

In daily intention setting (and also in manifesting) connecting them to your greater purpose can be a powerful motivator. If your daily intention will help you to better fulfill your purpose, it will certainly hold a more powerful energy. 

 

3. Visualize and focus on it

Once you’ve set your intention, visualize yourself embodying it. For example, if your intention is to remain focused on your goals throughout the day, see yourself doing those things. If your intention is to practice good self-care, see yourself doing the things you consider self-care. 

 

4. Hone your self-accountability skills

This can be a hard one, but one of the most rewarding skills you can develop for yourself. It takes a certain amount of self-love, self-respect and self-belief to hold yourself accountable. 

If this is something you struggle with, consider asking a friend to be your accountability buddy (I have several!). 

You can also join the Bloom and Manifest Facebook Group and share your intentions there, maybe you’ll find an accountability buddy! 

 

5. Work with oils, crystals or herbs that support your intentions

Working with essential oils, anointing oils, crystals, and herbs that align with your intentions is a great idea if you’re looking to amplify their power. I have several posts that detail the best choices for each of these depending on your intentions.

Here are a few you may want to browse:

• 7 Essential Oils to Supercharge Your Manifestations
• 10 Best Crystals for Manifesting (+ how to use them, cleanse them, and program them)
• 27 Best Emotional Healing Crystals

 

 

How to Stick to Your Intention for the Day

Sticking to your intentions can be a place where challenges arise. Here are a few tools you can use to help you stick to your daily intentions no matter what. 

 

1. Accountability buddy

This is one of my favorite tools. When I set my intentions, I usually record them into a voice note, then send them to my accountability buddy. You can also journal them and send a picture of that.  She sends me hers and we check in with each other throughout the day when/if necessary. This has helped me SO much!

 

2. Planner

If you’ve been around here a while, you know I’m a fan of planners. My Magic of I Astrological Planner has been a HUGE help to me when needing support with sticking to my intentions for the day. I keep my planner on my desk, open to the date. When I come to my desk I see my intention there in writing and its a huge help in remaining connected to my intention. 

 

3. Sticky notes

Write your intention on a sticky note and place it somewhere you know you’ll see throughout the day. This is a great visual reminder to stick to your daily intention.

 

4. Phone alarm reminders

If you’re really serious about sticking to your intention on any given day- set some alarms in your phone. It could be set to go off during your lunch break or any other time you feel would be helpful as a check in / nudge to bring your intention to mind. 

 

You may also like- Cacao Ceremony: Ultimate Guide to Awakening the Soul and Healing the Heart

 

 

Difference Between Goals and Intentions 

Although daily intentions could easily be mistaken for goals- I tend to associate goals with the future or your big picture desires.

Intentions are much more about being connected to the present moment. They are centered around your focus for the present day and the mindset you need in order to eventually reach your goals.

 

Difference Between Affirmations and Intentions

Affirmations and intentions can also be perceived as very similar, or maybe even exactly the same. However, I do feel there is a distinction. 

Affirmations are an empowering statement that you use in the moment to embody a feeling that’s connected to your goal (what you’re manifesting or who you want to become).

Intentions are more connected to the mind and helping you cultivate the right mindset that you may need to accomplish your goal. They tend to be more connected to taking aligned action or getting in the right headspace to take action. 

Related Reading:

• New Moon Affirmations: Embrace New Beginnings and Manifest Your Goals
• Night Time Affirmations for Sleep

 

Conclusion

Setting daily intentions is one of the easiest ways to begin shifting your mindset and creating more aligned habits for yourself. With a solid mindset and strong habits, there’s no doubt you’ll accomplish your goals and manifest the life of your dreams.

I hope this article was helpful and inspires you to begin setting daily intentions if you don’t already. If you already do, I’d love to hear about them!

Xo