What are some non-negotiables you have set for your health?
These are habits that you will not compromise on, habits that you know are working for you and are part of who you are.
Without these non-negotiables in your life, you may find yourself giving in to unhealthy habits when you truly do not want to.
You’ve set some health goals, you’re swapping unhealthy habits for good ones, and then out of nowhere you find yourself compromising.
One little compromise today, may lead to more compromises tomorrow. Before you know it, your healthy habits are but a memory.
Here are some healthy habit non-negotiables that you can set for yourself, please add more to your personal list as you get healthier.
Exercise and Move Daily
This may be your most challenging non-negotiable, but worth every drop of sweat you produce.
Get up fifteen to twenty minutes earlier to begin your day with a ten-minute routine. Then find ten-minute moments throughout your day to exercise.
Here’s what I do: My morning consists of walking and strength training. No matter whether I feel like walking or not, I remind myself how well I feel when I begin my day walking. As I go through my day, I find reasons to go the long way and add more steps to my day. I get up from my desk throughout the day and run-in place, do a few jumping jacks, or take a walk. Being consistent day in and day out has helped me build muscle, gain strength, and stay energized.
Exercising and moving throughout my day is non-negotiable for me.
Drinking Filtered Water
This may seem odd for you, but I worked for a water utility, and I don’t want to drink the water. I live on a farm with well water that has served us well over the years. But now I’m concerned of the chemicals that are leaching into the ground water, and I don’t want to drink the water.
I’ve purchased a water filter for my well water, and I take my filtered water wherever I go. I do not buy commercial bottled water either – I’ve worked in those areas too, and do not recommend for your source of purified water. Sure, I may need to drink water at a restaurant or at an event and I protect myself with a purify supplement that helps to cleanse those nasty toxins out of my system.
Drinking filtered water is a non-negotiable that I know will have lasting health benefits.
Eating Wholesome Food
You are what you eat.
Do you believe that statement?
It’s true and so many illnesses have their root cause in the foods we eat.
This is a decision that I made years ago, and I will never regret making this non-negotiable decision. I will not eat man-made chemicals that my body cannot eliminate.
Was it easy? No.
Has it been worth it? YES!!
I’ve lost weight and have maintained that weight loss for years. The inflammation that had begun to attack my body is gone. I have more energy and do not suffer from the aches and pains that so many my age are suffering with.
Choosing to eat wholesome foods is not hard nor is it expensive. Start asking yourself if the foods you eat are helping you or hurting you. Start switching out the unhealthy choices for healthier choices and you’ll be well on your way to feeling better and making this your non-negotiable.
Develop a Sleep Routine
How many hours of sleep are you getting on average?
If it is less than seven, you may want to develop a non-negotiable sleep routine.
Without the proper amount of sleep, your body is unable to regenerate itself. Basically, you’re asking your body to run on fumes day after day.
This is why you’re tired, irritable, and feel terrible.
Put your electronics away thirty minutes before bedtime and spend that time meditating, reading a calming book, listening to soft music with your favorite cup of tea.
Set your alarm to remind you to begin winding down and to get a least seven hours of sleep.
Then, develop the routine of getting up at the same time every day – yes even on your days off. This will help your body get into a routine and allow it to rejuvenate and restore itself.
As a non-negotiable, you want to retire and rise at the same time each day. If you find yourself staying up past your bedtime, stick with getting up at your regular time. Remember, you can’t catch up on missed sleep.
There are many non-negotiables that we can have in our lives, but too many will lead to a life of restrictions, and we know that never ends well.
If you’re new to developing healthy habits, chose one or two to work on. Once those habits are as natural as you getting up in the morning, then find another healthy habit to add to your life. The more healthy habits in your life, the healthier you’ll be.
Use this free resource to help you get started and learn to set some non-negotiables in your life.
