What are they? What do they do? Why are they important?
Inspired by @tinx & a brand new month! This girl loves a blank slate and a brand new month.
I know I am not alone when I try to take on too many things all at once. I’ve been focusing this summer on small consistent actions that make me feel good. These are the things that no matter what I have on my plate I do every single day. Things that without fail I know will set me up for a great day and therefore a great month and closer to my overall goals and dream life. If I do these things it will ground me and nourish me mind, body, and soul so that I can tackle whatever else is thrown my way!
What are my non-negotiables?
— movement
— 8 hours of sleep
— fruit before coffee
Why each of these are extremely important to me
Movement
When my body is moving, flowing, breathing time seems to not exist. I love a morning walk with a podcast. It not only stimulates my mind but it overrides the negative and unhelpful messages that tend to creep in. I love pilates because focusing on the specific muscle group leaves little room to focus on my to do list or anything else for that matter! It truly is a moving meditation. I love golf because it makes me uncomfortable and therefore I get a little bit stronger each time I try it.
8 hours of sleep
When I sleep well I handle my emotions better, I perform better, I am able to be a better leader, wife, instructor, and friend. In order to sleep well I need to start winding down way before its time to go to bed. I need to get in bed sooner than I think I need to and I have to keep my phone out of the bedroom. Find out how much sleep allows you to feel your best and work with your partner to delegate obligations so you can get that! We all deserve to get what we need even if its only a few nights a week. Start there with what you have and do what you can!
Fruit before coffee
I have a hard time eating in the morning. Most breakfast foods I have found tend to break out my skin. Until my gut is healed for now I know I love blueberries and if I do not do the most challenging part of my day first I will not get around to it. Fruit is a new habit for me and one that I need to bribe myself a bit! Coffee is my favorite thing on this earth therefore I cannot drink my coffee until after I have eaten my fruit! It has worked really well for me and I have eaten more fruit this month than I have eaten in my entire life combined. I start the day more hydrated, I get a quick boost before I go to teach, and I am getting vitamins and minerals that I normally wouldn’t. I call that a win!
How I have been able to consistently stick to them?
I found types of movements that feel good for where I am currently at. I also stay vague enough without drilling down to specific and making it not fun. For example I don’t put weight lift everyday because sometimes I really just want to do pilates. If I put weight lifting as a non-negotiable and then only did it 4 days I would feel like a failure the other 3 days. In order to stay consistent start with a little bit of flexibility. It has to be consistent not specific. I found a fruit I actually enjoyed and that was good for me. If you told me I have to eat a banana before my coffee I wouldn’t ever been able to do it no matter how hard I wanted to force myself too. It would have started too hard and too challenging for where I am at.
Don’t forget…
Don’t overcomplicate this. Don’t take on too much at once What are 2 things that make you feel good and set up a day to be a good day? Sound off in the comments and slide into my DM’s on IG @_jaclynleblanc and at one of our classes at the studio @bostonbodypilatesbelmont
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