If you’ve watched The Bear, you probably remember Carmy’s list of non-negotiables in the most recent season. While he took a lot of heat from his inner circle for them, the idea of having a list of things that can’t be compromised is pretty genius, both for the aspiring Michelin-star chef, but also as a mom.
This concept really got me thinking about what in my life is not negotiable. Having a list of principles, especially as a mom, that I find most important help keep me grounded and focused as life whizzes by. If over committing is something you struggle with, creating a list of your non-negotiables can help. Your non-negotiables are what you say yes to; everything else is optional. And when you start saying yes to your non-negotiable list, saying no to other requests becomes simple.
My Non-Negotiables:
- Family vacation once a year- we take this into account planning other expenses and other time off work to make sure we have a family trip to look forward to each year.
- Dinner at the table together more often than not- eating at the table as a family is super important to me, and while it doesn’t happen every day, we try to make it happen most days of the week.
- Experiences over things- instead of extravagant birthday parties or Christmas gifts, we opt for experiences over things. For example, last year my husband and I skipped exchanging anniversary, birthday and Christmas gifts and went away on a trip just the two of us for a few days.
- Regular exercise- For me getting exercise is crucial not just for my physical health but for my mental health. My husband knows that getting 30 minutes of movement in is top priority for me and helps me make that happen..
- A decent bedtime- I can’t function sleep deprived so just about any task can wait until the morning once the clock strikes 9pm. After that, I am officially in wind-down time for bed around 10pm.
What are some of your non-negotiables as a mom? Let us know in the comments below!