Alternative Ways New Zealanders Can Rethink Daily Life
Last Updated on May 30, 2025
Intentional living might sound like a buzzword or current fashion, but when it is taken seriously, it can help reshape daily life. In a nutshell, intentional living is aligning a lifestyle with values and goals to enjoy a more productive and enjoyable life.
Most people will want to manage their time better, enjoy a tidier home, and be able to stop wasting money when shopping, but it is easier said than done to break some habits. We explore some of the ways this can be done, and taking things a step at a time could result in a much happier lifestyle further down the road.
Improve Time Management
Time management means so much more than just turning up on time for commitments, though that can be a benefit. Instead, taking the time to think through the things we do and how they could be better scheduled can help us fit the things we want to do easily into our days.
One example of this could be for people who enjoy gambling and visiting casinos. The time it takes to get to and from a venue means it will more than likely take up a full evening. Instead, exploring online casino options can allow players to play on lunch breaks, while commuting, or during other downtime. Online gambling expert Andjelija Blagojevic, who provides expert analysis and breakdown for some of the top New Zealand online casinos, explains that players can enjoy a variety of games, big bonuses, and fast payouts.
Similarly, many of us will reach for a phone first thing in the morning to check the news or social media channels. An alternative to this could be catching up on news headlines in the shower or on the way to work, with social media scrolling being limited to commuting times or breaks during the day.
These are just some small examples that can help people to maximise the time they have, and when you start thinking like this, it can be amazing how much time in the day is wasted through old habits.
Declutter Your Home
A decluttered home will make it easier to carry out household chores, but it will also help with people’s mental health. A clean and decluttered home can feel like a weight off the mind and give homeowners a much happier feeling about their living space.
It can be difficult to start removing objects from the home, but after a while, it becomes therapeutic. Online marketplaces also make it easy for people to list and sell items, giving some financial motivation, too.
Refocus Shopping Objectives
Shopping trips don’t have to be completely avoided; after all, retail therapy can be an enjoyable experience for many. However, planning when visiting retail shops or looking online can help to reduce the time we take and the potential of ending up with buyer’s remorse.
Online grocery shopping is a great way to buy what you need and avoid having your head turned by offers and deals on things you had no intention of buying. Home delivery options can also help you save time, and booking off-peak delivery slots will often help you find the best-priced options.
Take Time for Self-Care
Setting time for yourself is an important part of intentional living, and your self-care techniques could be anything from a daily skincare routine to sitting down and reading a few chapters of a book. These times will give you an opportunity to decompress after the day.
Slow Things Down
Modern life is often fast-paced with work deadlines, expedited delivery options, and a never-ending rush to get where you’re going as soon as you can. Good time management should be able to help you plan better and avoid rushing, but actively taking the time to slow things down will also help.
Driving is a prime example of this, with many accidents and road rage incidents coming about because people were driving too fast or taking risks. Letting people in isn’t going to set you back too much, and learning how to drive calmly will significantly reduce stress levels.
Work With, Rather Than Against Boundaries
Setting boundaries is typically associated with how we deal with others, but personal boundaries can also be helpful. How much time we spend on social media, what we eat, the things we buy, all of these can get out of hand without setting boundaries.
When boundaries are set, learning how to work with them without feeling obliged to go right to the limit every time will help with our compulsiveness.
