The Frugal Doctor has been on an introspective journey, one that asks what it really means to live intentionally. Time Rich FI, after all is where intentional living meets financial independence (FI). It’s one thing to say, “I’m living intentionally,” but what does that look like in practice. How do we embody it day after day?
Along my own path, several books have challenged how I think. They have influenced my views on living an intentional life and mortality. Here are a few reflective exercises. These are snippets of wisdom. I hope they will inspire you to pause. Look inward. Shape a life aligned with what truly matters. To live intentionally, we must begin by acknowledging our own finite timeline. Death is uncomfortable to think about, yet it has a powerful clarifying effect.
Facing Mortality: What Regrets Will I Have?
Imagine you are on your death bed. You have limited time and know that the end is in sight. Maybe the doctor’s have said you only have a week to live. Who is around you? What are you saying to them? Are you at peace or you are troubled by what if’s? Are you going to harbour regrets? In The Top Five Regrets of The Dying, Bronnie Ware identified common regrets:
- I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself.
- I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish I had let myself be happier.
When you look at the listed regrets, which one hits you the hardest today? Are you living according to your own values, or someone else’s expectations? Are there conversations you’ve avoided? Do you have the courage to have those difficult conversations and express your feelings? Are there friends whom you have lost in touch with that you want to reach out to? In regards to happiness, are you choosing to be happy. Are you truly content? How are you cultivating contentment in your life? Ultimately, when my time comes, I know I want to look back with gratitude. I want to celebrate that I lived fully, truly lived surrounded by love.
Begin With the End: What Will my Funeral be Like?
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen Covey writes about beginning with the end in mind. There is an exercise that he encourages one to do. Picture yourself going to a funeral of a loved one. You feel the sorrow of loss and joy of having known them. As you get to the funeral you notice the settings and people there. You walk down to the front and look inside the casket you suddenly come face to face with yourself. It’s your funeral three years from today. Everyone there has gathered to honour you. Pause and look around. What difference did you make in their lives?
You take a seat and wait for the service to commence, you look at the program. The program features four speakers. One is a family member. Another is a close friend. There is also a professional colleague and someone from a community or organisation you served. Think deeply what each of these people would say about you and your life. What words do you want them to reflect? What character would you like them to have seen? What contributions or achievements do you want them to remember? This exercise isn’t about vanity, it’s about alignment. Are you living today in a way that leads to the legacy you want?
Intentional Living Happens in Small Repeatable Choices
Intentionality isn’t found only in dramatic life changes. It’s built through small, daily decisions. So is financial independence (FI). Tiny habits repeated consistently, compound into freedom. Here are a few simple practices to ground your days: :
- Morning inventory (2 minutes): Ask, “What one thing today would make me feel I used my time well?” Do that thing first.
- Quarterly regrets check: Every few months, revisit the five regrets list and the funeral exercise. Adjust your course before life drifts too far off track.
- Calendar guardrails: Define “non-negotiable” time for relationships, learning, or creativity. Protect the time and block it.
- Financial alignment: Put aside at least one percent of every paycheck for something that buys time or meaning. This could be a mini-retirement fund, a class that opens new doors, or an experience with people you love.
Intentionality + FI = options
Living intentionally doesn’t require perfection. It simply means fewer autopilot decisions and more decisions aligned with your values. Financial independence amplifies intentional living because it gives you options. The option to be present with family. It allows one to take a lower-paying job that’s meaningful. It enables you to spend time with people you love. It gives the option to structure your days around purpose, not pressure. Additionally, the option to rest, create, explore, or give.
If you want one practical next step, pick one regret from the list above. Then set one small concrete action for this week. This action should push you toward avoiding the regret. Big changes begin with tiny experiments. Intentional living starts today with the next choice you make.