If you had told me five years ago that I would be running a blog called Pretty Intent, dedicated to minimalism, slow living, and mindful curation, I probably would have laughed, and then immediately checked my phone for a notification.
Back then, my life was the literal opposite of intentional. I was living by default. I was a chronic multitasker, an anxious scroller, and a “yes” person who was perpetually burnt out. On the outside, I looked like I had it all together, but on the inside, I felt like I was running a race I hadn’t signed up for.
I know many of you feel this same way. You are tired of the constant “noise,” the comparison, and the pressure to produce. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing my personal journey to intentional living. This is the story of how I traded the blur for clarity, and how you can, too.
The “Rock Bottom” of Reactivity
My journey didn’t begin with a sudden moment of Zen. It began with a crash. I remember sitting at my desk, surrounded by “aesthetic” clutter, with fourteen tabs open on my browser. I was trying to respond to an urgent email, while simultaneously listening to a podcast and scrolling through a ‘sale’ feed.
Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened, and the entire room felt like it was spinning. I had reached the limit of my own capacity to react. That moment of panic was my rock bottom. It forced me to acknowledge a simple, painful truth: I was busy, but I wasn’t productive. I was connected, but I was lonely.
Phase 1: The Great Digital Audit
I knew I couldn’t overhaul my entire life overnight, so I started with the source of most of my chaos: my phone. This was my first tentative step into [Digital Minimalism].
- The Unfollow Binge: I opened my following list and ruthlessy unfollowed every account that didn’t spark genuine inspiration or growth. If an account made me feel envious, stressed, or “less than,” it had to go.
- The Notification Silence: I turned off every single non-human notification. My phone stopped buzzing for news alerts, “likes,” or games. Suddenly, my attention belonged to me again.
This phase was clumsy and difficult. I felt the “FOMO” (fear of missing out) intensely. But after just one week, something profound happened: my anxiety levels dropped. I started noticing the texture of my morning coffee. I heard the birds. I had time.
Phase 2: Intentional Space Curation
With more mental clarity, I turned to my physical environment. If my goal was peace, my home should reflect that. This is when I began to understand the power of [Curating Your Environment].
I started with my bedroom. I decluttered every surface, painted the walls a calm beige (matching the aesthetic you see across Pretty Intent!), and prioritized natural light. I realized that my space was not just storage for my things; it was the context for my entire life. When my space became intentional, my decisions became clearer.
Phase 3: The Slow Ritual Reset
My final challenge was my time. I needed a new operating system. Instead of waking up and reacting to my inbox, I built a sanctuary of [Slow Morning Rituals].
I traded the first thirty minutes of scrolling for five minutes of stillness, a sensory tea ritual, and structured journaling. This small shift ripple out into the rest of my day. I started saying “no” to things that didn’t align with my core intent. I prioritized deep work over shallow busy-ness. I started living on purpose.
Pretty Intent: The Path Forward
My journey is far from over. I still have messy days. I still get caught in a scroll hole occasionally. But the difference is that now, I have the tools and the clarity to return to my center.
Pretty Intent was born from this journey. It’s not just about pretty pictures; it’s about a pretty purpose. It’s a space to guide you through your own transition, to show you that a curated, meaningful life is entirely possible.
If you are currently sitting in the blur of reactivity, know that my personal journey to intentional living started exactly where you are. The first step is simple: turn off your notifications. Start today. I’ll be here to walk this path with you.