Do you have a non-negotiable?
Happy Friday!
Let’s talk “non-negotiables” this week. We all know that being too rigid when it comes to anything can cause issues. It stalls progress and puts us in positions that are unnatural compared to our beliefs, environment, and nuanced ways of being. However, making what we love to do and benefit from a non-negotiable is a great way to get sustainable results.
In the case of health, fitness, and nutrition, learning what you’d like to make non-negotiable can help you navigate times that are not ideal. Holidays, vacations, and stress-fueled times, for example, can completely uproot you from the track you’re trying to stay on. This is normal, but it need not completely derail your progress to the point where you quit.
There is a big difference between eating some extra goodies during the holidays, while still getting your steps in and drinking your water, than eating the extra goodies and skipping your movement and water because, “you blew it so why bother?”.
Keep your non-negotiables intact for as long as you can. There will be times, due to illness and extreme circumstances, where going for that walk just can’t happen. But there are plenty of times where you can make it happen, but you’re being a bit stubborn and falling into hold habits.
Here are some ideas to get you started. Don’t go picking a ton of non-negotiables that you can’t handle, or are what you think should be one. Work on having a few that you can hold close so that when times get tough you still show up for yourself.
FITNESS:
7,000-10,000 steps a day
30 minutes of exercise per day
Stretching daily
Walking daily
NUTRITION:
Staying within calories goals (deficit, maintenance, or surplus)
Water intake
Veggies/Fruits at every meal
Fiber goals
Macro tracking
Prioritizing protein
MINDSET:
Meditation daily
Yoga daily
Journal daily
Therapy weekly
The above are ideas, just play around. See what feels so good that you want to do it everyday and will make it a goal to do so, no matter what. When you prioritize the things that make you feel great, there is potential for those crap times being a little less crappy in terms of how you show up to deal. Doesn’t take away any pain or frustration, but you might handle things with a bit more ease and care.
Have a great weekend!
Kristen