Living with Intention by Design in the New Year-According to LiLu Interiors

According to LiLu: Living with Intention by Design in the New Year

While New Year’s resolution are a common theme at this time of year, when I searched New Year’s resolutions on google this year to write this post, I found some lists of up to 55 resolutions! Imagine trying to keep 55 resolutions starting on January 1^st. To me, this sounds like a set up for complete failure. Some lists suggest 10 resolutions which might be a bit more manageable. I, however, have decided to set only one New Year’s resolution, to live with intention by design.
To be honest, I have been on an intentional living kick for about a decade but these past few years have been a crash course on why intentional living is so beneficial.  The nice thing about setting a resolution to live more intentionally is you can fit many things under this umbrella, and it can morph and change daily. Seriously, you can set a new intention each day which gives you flexibility. And this year I've needed flexibility. Some days my intention has been getting through the day and be kind to myself and others. Some days it has been to learn a new skill. Some days to reflect, other days to take a risk. But writing down my intention and then executing on it has been a lifesaver in 2021.
One thing that is always true that by using intention + design you can have a great impact on living the life you envision.

Succeed at Living with Intention by Design: Create Habits

One thing I highly recommend if you are setting new intentions is to decide if an intention should be a daily habit. Some intentions can be weekly or quarterly. Learn a new creative skill at a class I am making a quarterly goal. Keeping a five-item gratitude list is a daily intention.
If you want to make an intention into a daily habit. I highly recommend reading Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before which is a great guide to the mysteries of creating successful habits.
Not sure how or when to start a new habit? Read Daniel Pink’s When for great tips on seeing the opportunity for a fresh start.

 Wellness

I have the intention to focus on wellness for myself and my family. This year, I focused hard on my wellness to increase my creativity and overall happiness. Wellness is a big subject that has many facets. I include eating fresh home-cooked meals, regular exercise, self-care under this intention. Since our blog is focused on Bringing Intention Home and designing spaces that support your intentions for your life, I have written entire posts on how your home can support healthy eating habits, and self-care and why wellness at home matters even more than ever.
Please check out Why Wellness at Home Matters
Bathroom Design : Wellness in Mind
and Kitchen Design: Wellness in Mind
While, I have focused on most of these goals, exercising at the gym or studio still isn't quite as easy as it used to be, before the pandemic. While gyms are opening up again, YouTube, Zoom instruction, and having a space to exercise at home has still been key to keeping up my wellness habits in the healthiest way possible this year.
Incorporating exercise space into your home is definitely a winning strategy for turning the intention to exercise into a reality. It can be anything from an entire exercise room to a carefully planned spot in an office, guest room, or living room.

Reading

Another intention I have going forward is to read more for pleasure. I read a lot, don’t get me wrong but I have tended over the last year to read more about business, interior design and social media and let reading for pleasure simply fall away from my life (unintentionally). Over break I read a novel just for the joy of it and I have to say, I want to do more of this! So, I am setting an intention to read a novel a month.
Living with intention isn’t easy! Having a cozy spot to read will make this easy! I have one all set up since I am an avid reader but here are the essentials for a great reading set up.

 Elevate Your Everyday Experiences

This year has been a good one for focusing on your everyday experiences. We have improved our outdoor living space so we could hang out at home and enjoy dining al fresco or a nice evening at a fire pit. We planted a garden with raised beds in our new outdoor space to have a daily, relaxing habit of checking on and watering those plants. An indoor houseplant habit became a trend in my life this year as well, and caring for some greenery each day (even in the winter!) has become one of my favorite rituals.
I've also been more intentional
I started the year by improving my bed because it’s a twofer. I will have a better sleeping experience AND that will also support my wellness goals.
I bought a new organic mattress topper, replace my comforter and pillows. Fresh bedding with organic cotton and comfy textures improved my sleeping experience. Want to know more about how to improve your bedroom to get a better night’s sleep? Read Sleeping your way to Wellness.

Bringing Intention Home

At LiLu Interiors, we love designing spaces that support our client’s lifestyles. It is our intention to find out your intentions. Would you like to create a home that is a reflection of your style, interest and values in life?  Surround yourself with color that speaks to your soul? Whatever your intention is, we want to know. We are in the business of designing interiors and creating spaces for you to live out your dreams. Whatever your dream is, we will creatively collaborate with you to design a home that uniquely expresses who you are and how you live. Give us a call, let’s bring your intentions home. 612-354-3271