Being Intentional: A Small Change with Big Impact on My Blogging World

Daily writing prompt

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

View all responses

I can’t think of any big changes…but I have many small ones.

In fact, I wrote about this related question some time ago when another WordPress prompt popped up on my screen.

Here are my top 10 “small” reasons for how my blog helped me become a better person in the world. Number 5 was an unexpected and grateful milestone in my blogging journey.

Becoming intentional with each moment in a day is a small change that started with blogging and is progressing towards bigger changes.

1. Writing skills: It’s an obvious improvement.
2. Thinking (analytical) skills: This was not so obvious initially. Over time, the act of writing requires me to think clearly before putting words on paper and screen, if not coherently.
3. Weekly (more like every day) discipline practice: Coming up with two blog posts every Tuesday and Thursday requires me to exercise my (very) weak discipline muscles.
4. Other related beneficial habits: To not miss the writing schedules, I started other routines—5:10 AM wake-up call and morning exercise routines before writing tasks.
5. Being an observer in my life: Coming up with blog post ideas made me an observer in my own life rather than just passing through each moment without reflection.
6. Meeting other designers: One of my initial goals in starting the blog was to meet other designers. However, what I hadn’t anticipated was finding people with similar outlooks on design, thinking, and life. It was a great way to make connections.
7. Becoming a better listener: Similar to the previous point, to gather story ideas for blog posts, I became a better listener to other people’s thoughts, experiences, and ideas.
8. Becoming tech-savvy (sort of): As a pen-and-paper person, using ever-changing technologies for my blog (WordPress platforms, SEO, digital marketing, etc.) makes me a tech-comfortable person, if not an expert.
9. Marketing knowledge: To increase more readers, view numbers, and followers, I am becoming better at understanding marketing skills, which is fundamental in any effort, personal or professional.
10. Personal happiness: I definitely did not anticipate this point when I started blogging. However, over the years, I recognized my happiness level increasing after clicking the publish button! Completing the difficult task of writing brings a happiness spike, even if it is short-lived…until the next blog writing task starts.

As I reflect on my days trying to come up with blog post ideas, like the tagline “Life Outside of the Design Office” illustrates, I am becoming more aware of my actions (or reactions), thoughts, and emotions in each moment.

Even though the impacts of my blog are filled with small (personal) changes to the world, they are big in my world!