A column in my daily newspaper was reporting on health the other day, and gave a few reminders in a pullout section.
“Set aside at least 30 minutes a day to exercise. Make it non-negotiable.”
The words ‘non-negotiable’ caught my eye and my imagination. It made me think of the well-worn phrase…‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’
We are all pretty good at making lists and identifying that which is good for us. These lists are heavily laden with personal goals involving diets, exercise programs, hobbies, skills, education, charity involvement, and more. Mine for 2018 include getting better at the piano and guitar while polishing up my French. We’ll just see how this plays out in the months ahead.
Today, let’s take it one step further. Let’s get a little tougher.
Let’s write down exactly what it is we plan to accomplish within the next month, and make it non-negotiable.
It does not have to be a task that qualifies for a listing in the Guinness Book of Records. Just something that you have been meaning to do, and have been failing miserably at thanks to your procrastinating tendencies.
I’ll lead the way with one that has hand-cuffed me for some time. This is just one of many goals I have yet to achieve. I’m going to start drinking more water. Let’s quantify the word ‘more’ by defining it as…four glasses. A minimum of four, eight-ounce glasses each day should help me get over this lack of moisture. Those in the know recommend eight glass, but that just isn’t realistic for me. Four is a good start.
I’m going to walk before I run. Four will do it for my ‘bod.’ This may sound easy for you, but this is going to tax me to the hilt. I like water, I just don’t drink it.
This is now non-negotiable. Now it is your turn to pick something. Write it down right now, and commit to it. I will keep you posted, you keep me posted.
Message: This week, make a non-negotiable promise to yourself and commit to it. The key is NON-NEGOTIABLE. No excuses are allowed.