Lanka Living & Yoga

Are We "Busy" OR "Being Intentional?"

Libby Gooneratne | NOV 5, 2026

#yogalife #yogajourney #living

Life is undeniably demanding, and it is easy to feel swept up in the current of daily tasks. But it can be incredibly empowering to remember that we are the authors of our own stories.

“An ocean traveler cannot control the waves, but they can learn how to ride them.” – Anonymous

As I write this, it feels like an encouraging note to myself, just as I hope it is for anyone reading. It is a reminder that with just a little bit of planning, we can create space for ourselves—even if that simply means getting up 30 minutes earlier in the morning. We can map out what matters most to us (preferably on paper to get it out of our heads) and experiment with different ways of doing things. By tweaking the program, we can move through our day with more intention and experience greater joy and peace of mind in this life.

As Lao Tzu beautifully said: “If you do not change your direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

Right now, it is early November. In just eight weeks, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Boxing Day, among other end-of-year festivities, will have come and gone. If we don't actively create that space and make the required changes now, it will be easy to find ourselves on January 1st feeling burnt out and wondering where the weeks went.

To help set us up for success this season, here are five gentle perspective shifts to consider that can help transform "busy" into "Being Intentional":

Remember That "Yes" is a "No" to Something Else
We can have it all, just not all at once. Life is a beautiful series of trade-offs. We often say yes out of a genuine desire to show up for others, experience everything life has to offer, or sometimes, out of a pure fear of missing out (FOMO).
But when we say yes to one too many drinks, a late-night event, or an extra work email, it helps to gently remind ourselves what we might be saying no to in return. Often, we are sacrificing our health, time engaged in a favourite hobby, quiet time with family, or the things that bring us deep, long-term joy. And hey—"no" doesn’t have to mean "no forever." It might just mean "not right now."
If It Isn't Planned, It’s Harder to Make Happen
Whether it’s a date night, a weekend getaway, learning a new skill, or a movie night with your kids, we can give those moments the same respect we give to critical work meetings by putting them right in the calendar.
Of course, life happens and plans change. We might not be able to control the waves around us, but when the things that matter most are anchored in our schedules first, it becomes much easier to navigate the chaos and stay on track.
Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin
It is fascinating how little we feel we can achieve in a single day, yet how much we can achieve in a year. Let’s not beat ourselves up if we can't do it all or see everyone right now. Life comes in chapters. We all share the same 24 hours, and we are all in the exact same boat trying to figure this out together.
Try looking at the bigger picture by breaking down the months ahead into quarters, prioritizing your closest relationships, and leaving a little breathing room for the unknown. If a get-together doesn't work out now, we can love them from a distance and try again next season.
Anchor Your Boundaries
Sometimes, simply being wide open and available is what sends us spinning out of control and drains our energy. Creating pre-planned commitments on a holiday or weekend naturally protects your schedule.
It can also give you a gentle reason to go to bed early (a secret hack to ensuring you get to sleep in, just on the other end) and say a polite "not this time" to excessive socializing. Finding a personal commitment that anchors your boundaries can do wonders to protect your energy.
You Are Not an Island—Share the Journey
We are not meant to walk this life alone. It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child—well, guess what? You are still that child who needs his or her village around you.
Be a friend to someone else by helping them carve out time for themselves, and don't be afraid to ask for help to do the same. If you don’t ask, you will never know who is more than happy to show up for you.

More is not always better. We only have one life, so let’s choose to Be Intentional rather than Be Busy. We want to live life to the fullest, so why settle for just surviving when we could be thriving?

To feel well in ourselves—having taken care of our mind, body, and spirit—connected and in harmony with those around us, and engaged in the things that utilize our unique talents and bring us true joy... that sounds like a beautiful way to live.

Over to You!

What are your thoughts? I’d love to learn from your experiences, too.

What is one boundary hack, experiment, favorite quote, or routine that has helped you protect your time and stay intentional, especially during the holiday season?

Share your insights via the contact form below—I look forward to continuing the conversation there!

Are We "Busy" OR "Being Intentional?"

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