The intention to live intentionally came to me during the pandemic. Like many of us, I was forced to slow down, to sit with the stillness and face how fleeting life can be. The days that were once filled with plans suddenly turned quiet, and in that stillness, I began to reflect more deeply on how I was living.
To be fair, I wasn’t exactly living on autopilot before. I had been freelancing for years, working on projects I cared about and having full control over my time and routines. I already practiced a level of intentionality, choosing work that aligned with my values, saying no to things that didn’t, and designing a life with some balance.
🧸The Moment I Realized the Importance of Living Intentionally
But after the pandemic, that sense of intentional living became sharper and more personal. It was no longer just about work or productivity. It extended to the people I allowed into my circle, the habits I wanted to keep, and the kind of energy I wanted to protect.
Then, in 2022, when Sri Lanka faced an economic crisis and long power cuts, that awareness deepened even more. It was a period of uncertainty that made me realize how fragile comfort can be and how much peace comes from being grounded in what truly matters.
It taught me that while we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can always choose how we show up each day.
🧸What Living Intentionally is
Living intentionally, I realized, means being awake to the present moment, mindful of what we allow into our lives, and purposeful in how we spend our time, energy, and attention.
It’s learning to pause before saying yes, to appreciate before wanting more, and to live each day with awareness instead of autopilot. It’s choosing depth over speed, peace over noise, and meaning over busyness.
Intentional living is flexible. It’s less about adding more and more about aligning better.
🧸What Living Intentionally is NOT
Over time, I’ve also learned that intentional living is not perfection. It’s not about having every area of life figured out, following a strict morning routine, or doing everything with purpose all the time.
It’s not minimalism for the sake of aesthetic, nor productivity disguised as mindfulness. Living intentionally doesn’t mean you need to quit your job, move somewhere quiet, or have your days neatly mapped out in a planner.
It also doesn’t mean every moment has to be meaningful or productive. Some days, intentional living is simply choosing rest, allowing yourself to slow down without guilt.
🧸Solo Travel as My First Venture in Intentional Living
The first real practice of intentional living I embraced was solo travel.
In 2023, I finally decided to make it happen, something I had always wanted to do since the start of my freelance journey. From January to March, I traveled alone for 60 days through India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, before returning briefly to India and then home to Sri Lanka.
Later that year, from October to December, for 60 days,I set off again, this time to the UAE, Cambodia, Singapore, and India once more, before finally coming home for the year’s end.
It was a journey that took me not only across borders but also deeper into myself.
I had been dreaming of such an experience for years, but earlier in my freelance life, my focus was mainly on the financial aspect, building stability, finding clients, and ensuring sustainability.
Travel seemed like a luxury that could wait. But after the pandemic, I felt an inner shift. I realized that intentional living wasn’t about waiting for the perfect time. It was about honoring what truly brings you alive while you still can.
Traveling solo taught me to trust myself, to slow down, and to see beauty in the ordinary, the morning light over a foreign street, the taste of local coffee, or the quiet reflection that comes from being completely on your own. Each moment became a reminder that intentional living starts when you choose to fully show up where you are.
One place that deeply reflected this idea for me was Siem Reap, Cambodia. There, I found a rhythm of life that felt quiet yet full, the kind of stillness that lets you reconnect with yourself. It wasn’t just about visiting temples or tasting Khmer food. It was about being present in every step, every sound, every conversation. I wrote more about that experience in my post, A Trip to Siem Reap Is What You Need for a Mindful You, a reflection on how travel can become a form of mindfulness when done with intention.
🧸How I Practice Intentional Living
Over time, I’ve learned that I can bring mindfulness into even the simplest routines. I don’t always get it right, but here are the small ways I practice it every day:
Mindfulness and Productivity
I set mindfulness activities throughout my week to help keep my thoughts grounded and my emotions regulated. These moments don’t have to be grand or dramatic; they’re often small, quiet rituals that make my day feel whole.
Some days, it means coloring mindfully, letting my mind slow down as I fill spaces with color and intention. Other days, it’s in cooking something simple but nourishing, or journaling with a cup of coffee beside me, letting my thoughts find their way onto paper.
I also love walking, sometimes without music, just listening to the world around me. At home, I find joy in talking to our stray cat who visits regularly, a tiny moment of connection that reminds me of gentleness and care. And when I need to feel grounded spiritually, I visit temples, where silence feels like a language of peace.
All these little rituals keep me rooted in the present, a practice I shared more deeply in another post, The Little Indulgences That Keep Me Mindful and Productive. These aren’t just hobbies. They’re mindful acts that help me show up more intentionally for myself and the people around me.
Freelancing by Following My Flow
Another way I practice intentional living is through how I work. Freelancing has taught me that productivity isn’t about being busy all the time. It’s about flow. I no longer chase endless to-do lists or push myself beyond what feels aligned. Instead, I follow my natural rhythm.
I’ve created a gentle structure that keeps me balanced. I start my mornings with simple start-of-the-day rituals, a quiet coffee, journaling, and checking in with my priorities. I also have end-of-the-day rituals that help me slow down, review what went well, and disconnect from work mode. These small moments give my freelance life both rhythm and meaning.
I keep reminders in my workspace, short notes or quotes that help me reconnect with why I’m doing what I do. I’ve also built a personal system for how I manage tasks, energy, and focus. It’s not rigid; it’s intuitive. It helps me honor both my creative surges and my need for rest.
I shared more about this mindset and system in my post, My Friendly Approach to Focus and Energy. For me, freelancing is not just a career. It’s a lifestyle that allows me to live intentionally every day.
Intentional Travel
Travel, for me, isn’t about chasing destinations or ticking places off a list. It’s about seeking experiences that teach me something about the world and about myself. When I travel, I allow space for reflection. I think about how a country’s rhythm, culture, or people connect with my own mindset and life journey.
One journey that deeply shaped me was my trip to Japan. I often say it helped me untangle my knots, those invisible burdens and excess baggage we carry without realizing how heavy they’ve become. Japan, with its quiet precision and deep respect for simplicity, reminded me that maintaining external order nurtures internal stillness. It taught me to move gently, to carry myself with mindfulness, and to avoid unloading unwanted emotions onto others.
That experience became a turning point, a reminder that healing often happens in silence and self-awareness. You can read more about it in my reflection, Untangle Your Own “Knots”, Or Else….
Learning Continuously
Intentional living also means choosing to learn continuously. Whether it’s watching a K-drama, reading a book, or exploring a new skill, I approach each experience as an opportunity to grow, reflect, and apply insights to my own life. Learning isn’t just about acquiring knowledge It’s about deepening awareness, understanding different perspectives, and nurturing curiosity.
For example, I often watch K-dramas not just for entertainment, but as a lens to reflect on human relationships, resilience, and values. They inspire me, teach me empathy, and sometimes even spark personal insights that influence the way I approach life. I explored this idea more in my post, Reasons Uncontrollably Fond K-drama is so Worth Your Time and Tears, where I discuss how storytelling can be both moving and instructive.
By approaching life as a continuous learning journey, I stay intentional not only in what I do, but in how I grow, connect, and respond to the world around me.
🧸Why Intentional Living Matters to Me Now
Life moves fast, and the past few years have made that reality even clearer for me. The pandemic reminded me how fragile our routines and plans can be. The economic recession in Sri Lanka showed me how quickly circumstances can shift. And seeing relatives and people I’ve known slowly depart from this world made me realize just how short life truly is.
These experiences have reinforced a simple but powerful truth. There’s no time to live passively or on autopilot. Life is too precious not to live with purpose and intention. Intentional living matters to me because it allows me to choose what I focus on, who I spend my time with, and how I show up in the world.
By living intentionally, I honor the fleeting nature of life, making each day count in ways that matter, cultivating gratitude, building meaningful connections, and pursuing the activities and practices that bring joy, growth, and fulfillment.
🧸An Invitation
Here on Snippets of Wonders, I’ll be sharing my journey of living intentionally through:
- Reflections on K-dramas, books, movies, and everyday life
- Teaching & learning resources for educators and lifelong learners
- Stories and tips on travel, mindfulness, productivity, freelancing, and digital business
If you’re also seeking ways to live more intentionally, start by exploring why I write reflections or how teaching stays close to my heart.
Because intentional living isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the things that make life yours.
(We write our content in the hope of making you, our readers, feel a little more inspired in a time when you’re probably feeling low. We hope you feel a little lighter after visiting our site. Then, we know we’ve served our purpose.⭐)
🍀 Let’s Stay Connected
If this post resonated with you, let’s keep in touch. I share more on:
- ✈️ Travel, cozy cafes, food discoveries, and freelance life on Instagram and Facebook
- 🧠 Mindful productivity, instructional design, and digital business on LinkedIn
- 💻 Plus, I regularly share digital products and courses to support freelancers, educators, and startups on all three platforms.
Let’s connect. I’d love to learn about your journey too!
