Rhythms for an Intentional Life

Gentle readers, forgive me for my digital silence. Work got so very stressful and time slipped by and here we are. Winter is slowly crouching at the door, and I have officially timed my heater to turn on before I wake so I don’t feel cold in the mornings. I am so glad for daylight savings this year, as getting up in the dark was such a painful experience for me, and seeing the sunset at work is quite stunning.

As the dark deigns to make itself a familiar friend at this time of year, I figured it’s important to be intentional about the way we go about the world. Here are some rhythms of having an intentional life this fall (into winter).

Put your phone to bed

After my social media fast in September, I’ve noticed myself falling back into the same habits that I tried to get away from initially. It’s important that I don’t bring my phone to bed with me as I always end up scrolling and delaying my sleep (which I already struggle with). Setting my phone down, putting in an alarm, and plugging in to charge is key in resisting the urge to scroll or to check my email for the umpteeth time for no particular reason.

Reading before bed

This habit comes and goes, but when it’s present in my life, there is a discernable difference. Though I can find myself saying “just one more chapter,” I’m not lost in a spiral of comparison or boosts of dopamine. I’m lost in a world unlike our own, and yet no matter where I am, whether in rural Iceland or suburban New Jersey, I always learn more about our world and its ways. (Currently reading the sequel to Father Elijah [thanks Blaine Eldredge!]) Reading before bed helps prime me for sleep. It removes the worries from my mind and replaces them with delight.

Related Post: easy autumn to hard winter season | quiet winter series

Closing out the kitchen

No matter how tired you are, no matter how few dishes are in the sink, it’s always best to do a closing shift in the kitchen. Put away what needs putting away. Clear out the sink. Wipe down the counters. Waking in the morning with something in the sink always undermines my day. Instead of a blank slate, I see an immediate problem where once was just the morning light in my eyes. Clean the kitchen for peace in the morning. An empty sink is a clear mind.

Moments of silence

I started this rhythm in 2023. My prayers of words did not avail much, and so I learned to lean into the silence. I too shrank back at times, and even now, I am not always the best at sitting with myself in the silence. I am afraid. Afraid my worries will rise up to meet me. Afraid to find emptiness at the center of my existence, though I know God is with me. 

If I refuse the invitation of silence, I find that unlike Sabbath, it slips away unbidden. Though you will have much activity, many thoughts and ideas, all that lurks underneath is unresolved. It has not seen the light. You will begin to be shallow, to outsource your wisdom instead of retreating to the true source of all wisdom, God Himself.

Related Post: the winter season: barren like Hannah

Practice of reflection

Reflection can come in many shapes and sizes like snowflakes. My preference is journaling. But yours can be voice notes or little postcards sent to a close friend who you are willing to share your inner world with. Maybe it’s a weekly walk where you ponder a problem that has come up in the week or a monthly conversation with a friend where you chat about your goals and where you want to be. Action without reflection is shooting an arrow without gazing at the target.

One thing you love to do

It’s so easy to give up something you love to the demands of life. Unfortunately, it will not get less busy. There will always be demands for your time and attention, but resist. For me, it’s reading. I can give up knitting though I love to keep my hands busy. Or baking. But I can’t give up a good book. It’s baked into the rhythm of my world and I know I would be unmoored without it. Whatever it is, take and savor it. Treasure it and protect it from the stresses of work, relationships, and the million little things that devour our attention.

Hope these are some helpful tips to help you live intentionally this fall!

Signing off,

Gigi