Non-Negotiables: Prioritizing What You Want

​A lot of times when we have goals...whether they are big goals or little ones...we get distracted from ever reaching them.

There are many reasons along the way of why we get distracted. Sometimes those distractions are because we have not set up intentions to really prioritize them.  

​This applies to any goal...health related goals like: goals of eating healthier, goals of losing weight, goals of getting in shape or committing to an exercise routine, or it can be lifestyle goals such as: areas of self-improvement, acquiring a new skill for a career change, or making an effort to improve your relationships. 

Many times, we are trying to do too much and have so much on our plate, that those goals start collecting dust, and somewhere inside of us we start feeling guilty or like failures because we have not reached them.  But what is really happening is that priorities have not been set.

The first step to eliminate distractions and focus on your goals is to identify what the most important things are to you...what I call "non-negotiables".  Non-negotiables are things that absolutely MUST be happening in your life to reach your goals.  We do non-negotiables every single day without even thinking about it.

Let me break this down in a simple example...you brush your teeth every morning because you have the goal to keep your mouth clean, and have fresh breath.  This is automatic, you don't really have to think about it.  It is something you just do because it is non-negotiable.

Figuring Out YOUR Non-Negotiables
Now, think about your big goals for the next six months.  What are they?

Focus on what YOU really want. Not what your family and friends think you should want. But what YOU want.

Write down no more than three goals.  Or you can just write down one goal. It can be a diet/fitness goal or anything really. But write it down.

Now next to each goal, write down an action step that you have to do daily or weekly (or on a regular basis) to successfully and realistically meet that goal.

Those action steps are your non-negotiables.  Consider those as your top priorities.  You can't just "find time" to do them; you must "MAKE TIME" to do them.

And if you don't "make time" to do them...guess what? Those goals are just fantasies and won't be reality.

Let's say your goal is to eat healthier because you have been feeling run down and want to lose some weight. One example of an action step that you can do on a regular basis - a non-negotiable - could be that you have to do some meal planning and food prep each week so that you don't end up relying on fast food and junk food.

Or what if your goal is to build up strength and muscle in your upper body so that you can rock tank tops this summer. An obvious action step is that you are going to have to do some upper body workouts a few times a week to make this happen. Doing those upper body workouts are non-negotiable.

When you treat the action steps towards your goals as non-negotiable, you are going to make progress and see results.

This is exactly how fitness is for me. Working out is non-negotiable for me.  It is just like brushing my teeth.  This is because being fit is a top priority for me so I make it happen. There is absolutely no question in my mind as to whether or not I will be completing my workouts. Getting those results are extremely important to me so I rarely entertain the idea of skipping a workout, even when I am super busy or just not in the mood. I know what things in my life I am willing to sacrifice and working out is simply NOT one of them.  That is because fitness is my priority.

It is this exact attitude that will make the difference, no matter what your personal goals are.  If you don't make time for the non-negotiables, that goal just isn't as important to you as you are telling yourself it is.
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If you are not getting results it means you are not making the time to do what is necessary to reach your goal - of eating healthier, or getting fit, or whatever other goal you desire.  And to all my fellow perfectionists...this does NOT mean you are a failure...it just simply means you are not making those goals a true priority.

Sometimes creating those action steps - the non-negotiable - can be tricky or seem complicated. If you need help with figuring out what action steps to take in order to reach your unique goals, fill out this form, and let's talk!  Implementing the right "non-negotiables" into your busy schedule can be life changing.