Do you sometimes feel as if you are at the bottom of your own priority list? Everyone else’s needs are met by you on a daily basis and you often haven’t got anything left for you. Me too! As a mum, I wear many hats and have so much going on that some days, scrap that MOST days, there simply isn’t anything left for me.
A week or so ago I read a great post from my friend Katie from Pouting in Heels, her Non Negotiable List and it really got me thinking how useful a list like this would be for me. I have a personality type which means I will always help others and get things done for other people, but not so much for myself. So I need help to focus each day on things I could do to make me happier and also to give some incentive to stick to it.
Then my lovely friend Hannah from Budding Smiles tagged me to write my non-negotiable list, so I got to work.
My Non-Negotiable List
Here are the things I need in my life to make me happier and more contented (family and friends aside).
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Reading
There was a time when I was a real book worm and I do miss reading books so much. I read a lot each day, but I am only reading blogs and websites which I love, but it isn’t helping me to get through my ever expanding reading list. So I need to make a commitment to read more books and fit it in with my life in a way it will be easy for me to do. I put Baby to bed each night and I sit beside her bed while she drifts off; I usually use this time for social media tasks, but from now on this 15 minutes or so each day will be to read something that is not a blog. I am currently reading Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear* and next on my list is Steal Like An Artist*
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Polished Nails
I have very poor nails, which are constantly breaking and splitting, so are never long. I do feel better though when they are painted; it makes me feel a little more put together. Recently, I picked up a Rokit Gel Polish Professional Kit
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Tea
I could not live (happily) without tea. I am often on various diets, some limiting milk, but I have come to realise that life is too short to deprive myself of tea (with lots of milk) so I will no longer do so. Brew anyone?
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3 good things
I write a weekly ‘happy list’, but I think writing down 3 good things each day would really help me to keep my focus firmly on the positive in my life and not to let the small negative things pull me down.
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Never work never past midnight
I know to some people this will seem extreme, but I frequently work past midnight. In my goals for 2016 I said I would stop working at 11.30pm, but I am failing in this at the moment. What I think is important to me though, is for there to be a clear division between each day. At the moment I am grabbing my phone if Baby wakes up and I need to sit in her room, often meaning I am still doing things at 2, 3 or 4 am, then starting the next day when we wake up at 6am. So from now on, if I am up in the middle of the night I will be reading a book not working.
Do you think a non negotiable list could help you? Why not write one? If you are a blogger then I tag you all and if you are not a blogger just pop your list in the comments, I would love to see what you have decided not to live without.
*These links are affiliate links, meaning I earn a couple of pence if you chose to buy the item. I only share products that I love or that are on my own wish lists though.