Written by: Coach Dorene MacVey

This month at ithrive31, we're focusing on Back to Alignment, the habits and systems that support us.

When people hear about our 31-Day Plan, they often assume it's another goal-setting program or productivity system. It's really neither.

It's a simple process I've used for the past twelve years to help me stay aligned with the life I want to live.

It isn't about accomplishing more.

It's about living with greater intention.

Where It All Began

In October of 2014, I found myself feeling stuck.

After a lot of soul-searching, I still wasn't sure what my next step should be. I wasn't looking for another planner or another list of goals. I needed direction.

So I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down one or two things I could intentionally focus on during the next 31 days in each area of my life: financial, physical, emotional, relational, professional, and spiritual.

Then I taped it to my bathroom mirror.

The actions weren't big.

They weren't life-changing by themselves.

They were simply the next right things to bring momentum to my life.

Financially, I set a plan to reduce debt by a specific amount over the 31 days, along with meeting a realtor to engage in an exploratory conversation.

Physically, I wanted to continue with an exercise class I was participating in and engage four times a week.

Emotionally, I planned to attend a women's conference that was already on my calendar because I knew it would fill my cup.

Professionally, I wanted to have a career conversation with a mentor to identify some next professional steps I may pursue.

Relationally, I planned a night out with my neighborhood friends.  I hadn’t seen them for awhile and this would be a lot of fun! 

Spiritually, I committed to a 6-week Bible study at my church.

The actions weren't meant to be impressive.

They were meant to be intentional.

Thirty-one days later, something had changed.

Not everything in my life.

Me.

For the first time in a long time, I felt momentum.

So after a couple of weeks of reflection, I created another plan.

Then another.

Over time, this became the framework for ithrive31 Living Intentionally program and a practice that has helped guide my life for the past twelve years.

What the 31-Day Plan Really Is

The 31-Day Plan isn't about changing your life in a month.

It's about choosing a handful of intentional actions that align with the life you're trying to build.

Each area of life gets one or two priorities.

Not because those are the only things that matter, but because they're the things that matter most in this season.

Why It Works

It's personal.

No two plans ever look the same.

The actions I choose reflect my season of life, my priorities, and what I believe will help me move forward. 

It's flexible.

Every plan is different.

Sometimes I repeat the same habits because they're still serving me.

Sometimes I remove things that no longer fit.

Sometimes I try something completely new.

The process grows with my life.

It's realistic.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that the plan requires adding more to your life.

It doesn't.

Many of the things on my plan are commitments I've already made.

If I've signed up for an exercise class, a conference, or a Bible study that I know will bring energy to my life, it belongs on my plan.

The plan isn't another to-do list.

It's a way of intentionally focusing on what matters most.

It creates momentum.

Thirty-one days feels manageable.

It gives me enough time to build consistency without feeling overwhelming.

Small actions, repeated consistently, create forward movement.

And momentum has a way of building confidence.

What Makes It Sustainable

If there's one thing that's made this practice stick for twelve years, it's this:

I don't expect perfection.

I expect progress.

When a plan comes to an end, I reflect.

Some things I knocked out of the park.

Some things I made progress on.

Some things simply didn't happen.

That's not failure, that’s data. 

It helps me understand what's working, what isn't, and what deserves my attention next.

I've also learned that the process should support my life, not the other way around.

Sometimes I begin another plan right away.

Sometimes I wait a couple of weeks while I reflect on what's next.

Sometimes I try something that doesn't fit.

That's okay.

I'll adjust.

The process is meant to work with my life, not force my life into a rigid system.

And that's important because life isn't lived in perfect monthly cycles.

You don't have to start on the first of the month; it can start in the middle or even the end of the month. 

You don't have to start on a Monday.

You don't even have to create a new plan the moment the previous one ends.

Start when you're ready.

Pause when you need to.

Then begin again.

The biggest mistake isn't missing a few days or having every box checked.

The biggest mistake is believing that because you didn't do everything, you shouldn't keep going.

An all-or-nothing mindset keeps us stuck.

Progress keeps us moving.

It's Never Really Been About the Plan

Looking back over the past twelve years, I've realized something.

The goal was never to build the perfect plan.

The goal wasn't having more to do.

It wasn't accomplishing every task.

The goal was becoming the kind of person who regularly pauses, reflects, chooses what matters most, and takes intentional action.

Alignment isn't something we achieve once and keep forever.

Life changes.

Seasons change.

We change.

That's why this process has stayed with me all these years.

Whenever I choose to create a 31-Day Plan, I'm simply asking myself one question:

"What's most important in this season of my life?"

Then I choose a few intentional actions to focus on during the next 31 days. 

The plan is simply the practice.

The real transformation happens in the person you're becoming.

Because intentional living isn't built in one big decision.

It's built one season, one choice, and one 31-day period of focus at a time.

If you're ready to become more intentional about how you live, work, and lead, I'd love to invite you to begin your own 31-Day Plan. Whether you're looking for greater focus, renewed momentum, or simply a way to pause and reflect on what matters most in this season of your life, our Living Intentionally Workbook will guide you through the process. You can download it for free from the Good Energy Store and start whenever you're ready.

Intentional living doesn't begin with a perfect plan. It begins with intentional choices.

P.S. Gain momentum in your personal and professional life by subscribing to our ithrive31 Momentum monthly newsletter!