My non negotiables list. The things I will do to make myself happier
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.” Gandi
Recently I’ve realised how much of me I give to everyone else, to my children, my partner, my work, my blog and there is often very little left. How can I expect myself to be able to do all this giving to others when I don’t give to myself? Something has got to change. I’m a fan of the lovely Kate at Pouting in Heels blog, if you haven’t read her blog, why not? go and do it now, but then come back. I absolutely love her message to love ourselves as women and each other more. Her non negotiables list has inspired lots of others to join in and create their own. I was tagged by two of my blogger friends Hannah at budding smiles and Hannah at Hi baby blog. Thanks girls, you’ve given me the kick up the bum to create my own list of non negotiables to hopefully give some happiness back to myself.
I will …. buy fresh flowers every week. I’ve recently started to buy myself flowers and it’s something I’m going to continue. For the price of a coffee I can have some brightness and freshness in the home that makes me smile every time I pass and see them. I’m also enjoying taking photo’s of my flowers and sharing them on Instagram.
I will …. have a night off at least once a week. No laptop, no trying to catch up on social media and replying to comments and posting things. Time with James and also time for myself as I don’t get it in the day. Time to take care of myself, paint my nails, have a bath and read which leads me on to….
I will …. read. I used to enjoy reading and growing up I always had my head in a book. I didn’t think there would ever be a time where I didn’t read. Having children and so much to do means that I just get in to bed wanting to go to sleep. I need to make time to read, not just blogs and articles on line, an actual book that I can lose myself in.
I will …. exercise. I feel so much better about myself when I exercise and again it is a time thing. I’m going to aim for twice a week and would love to start a yoga class again. I wont give up if I don’t manage it one week but instead try to do it in a different way, a walk in the countryside or 10 minutes of yoga.
I will …. believe in myself more. This is a big one, I’m so negative on myself, suffering with guilt and tough parenting days and this needs to change. I’m doing a good job, the best I can do and I need to be kinder to myself about it all.
I will …. stop caring about what others think. I spend far too much time worrying about the opinions of others, I can’t change them and worrying about it is not going to help.
I will ….listen to music and see live bands. I listen to music in the car now and sometimes in the house. I used to be really in to my music and seeing the Foo Fighters in the summer reminded me of how much I miss it being in my life.
Oh the music one is a good call I find that I’m so busy worrying about what’s for lunch, where are the nappies, what time is baby club, did I write that email that I don’t take the time to just stick the radio on and enjoy! We’ve been trying to see more love bands recently too – something we used to do all the time pre baby. Good luck with you list 🙂 xx
Love this list Eilidh, all really good ways to look after yourself and none of them require a whole load of time, money or sacrifice to your family/work/blog etc xx
Your list is very similar to mine 🙂 I really enjoyed making my list, it really made me think what would make me happy! Fresh flowers is a good one, since daffodils have been in the shops, I have been grabbing a bunch and can’t believe what a difference they make to a room. x
Great choices lovely! It’s amazing how things like listening to music & having fresh flower can make all the difference in our day! Thanks so much for hosting #picknmix
Sometimes I miss listening to my music in the car, my son just wants to listen to “his music” which is generally the Andy day album on repeat lol! It’s really good advice to take a night off, I’m terrible for just sitting on my laptop in the evening and some nights my husband and I barely speak! Must try harder at this! xx #picknmix
Such a good list. I think mine is going to the gym as that always makes me feel better and give me more energy to spend playing around with my little man and fresh flowers in the house #picknmix
Go you! Brilliant lost. I think we all need to take some time back for ourself. I have done this through running, taking half an hour every other day I have time to think and clear my head. #picknmix xx
Love this – especially buying fresh flowers each week. I got quite a few bunches for my birthday a few weeks ago and I was surprised at how happy they made me. So now, like you, I’m planning on buying more fresh flowers and helping the house look a lot more spring like 🙂 #picknmix
ooh I like it- funnily enough I love having fresh flowers but always think of them as a bit of a frivolous purchase, however I wouldn’t think twice about spending the same amount on a coffee! Maybe I will switch one coffee a week for a bunch of pretty flowers (which last a lot longer!) #PicknMix
I can identify with everything on your list. I love Kate’s blog and that was a brilliant post. I really don’t know what mine would be but I also need to stop caring what others’ think. Hope it helps to make you happier.
Oh this is brilliant! You have inspired me to write my own – love the idea of buying flowers every week! I also wish I had more time to read (can you believe I seriously thought I was going to write a novel on my maternity leave ) I need less phone time and more creative time! Popping by from #PicknMix
Ooh I really like this idea. By writing it down, it kind of seals it, doesn’t it? I hope you get to do all of these things and more. I’m going for the fresh flowers once a week thing, too. They really do brighten my day. Actually your list sounds a LOT like mine. Reading is also something I’ve started doing more of just recently. I decided that I would buy a new book once a month. Think I need to write one of these lists!
I like that list and would love for them all to be non negotiable myself! I am not sure how good I would be at it though! I particularly like the reading and fresh flowers 🙂 #PicknMix
That’s a good list. I especially like the idea of buiyng fresh flowers every week, that’s a simple way to cheer up both yourself and your house while knowing you’ve achieved one of your goals. Good luck, I hope you manage to stick to them. #PicknMix
Goodness I love this! So joyful. I always talk myself out of buying flowers if no one is coming round but I might make it a non negotiable 🙂 #picknmix
I love your list. I think it is a great idea to get flowers in once a week. I used to do this before the kids were born and it somehow was forgotten about over the years. Must start to do that again. #PicknMix
Everything on your list would be on my list, it’s so hard to find time for yourself these days. I particularly relate to the reading and exercise, I really enjoy doing these and have not done enough since having little one. I also used to cook and make cakes this too has taken a back seat. Maybe I need to put my non negotiables list together. Claire X #PickNMix
I love your list! I would have read a book on mine. Since welcoming my baby girl 6 weeks ago i have yet to pick up a book and that has been hard for me as i am a total book worm! xx
#picknmix
I love this. I think I might make one and stick it up somewhere to remind me to make time for me! I just feel guilty when I do because there is always so much that needs to be done! Good luck with your list lovely xx #Picknmix
This is such a great list, and I love the first one regarding the flowers. On the rare occasion we have fresh flowers in the house it really makes a difference! And well done on having a list which is just for you. So important and easily overlooked. Mums put themselves so far down the list and it really doesn’t have to be that way! 🙂 Kathy xx #PicknMix
I’m loving your blog more and more at the moment, I really enjoy your more personal posts like this one. You say a lot of things that resonate with me – the giving so much of yourself to everyone else – it’s exhausting isn’t it? I think you should definitely believe in yourself and look after yourself more often! #picknmix
Oh the music one is a good call I find that I’m so busy worrying about what’s for lunch, where are the nappies, what time is baby club, did I write that email that I don’t take the time to just stick the radio on and enjoy! We’ve been trying to see more love bands recently too – something we used to do all the time pre baby. Good luck with you list 🙂 xx
Love this list Eilidh, all really good ways to look after yourself and none of them require a whole load of time, money or sacrifice to your family/work/blog etc xx
Your list is very similar to mine 🙂 I really enjoyed making my list, it really made me think what would make me happy! Fresh flowers is a good one, since daffodils have been in the shops, I have been grabbing a bunch and can’t believe what a difference they make to a room. x
Great choices lovely! It’s amazing how things like listening to music & having fresh flower can make all the difference in our day! Thanks so much for hosting #picknmix
Sometimes I miss listening to my music in the car, my son just wants to listen to “his music” which is generally the Andy day album on repeat lol! It’s really good advice to take a night off, I’m terrible for just sitting on my laptop in the evening and some nights my husband and I barely speak! Must try harder at this! xx #picknmix
Such a good list. I think mine is going to the gym as that always makes me feel better and give me more energy to spend playing around with my little man and fresh flowers in the house #picknmix
Go you! Brilliant lost. I think we all need to take some time back for ourself. I have done this through running, taking half an hour every other day I have time to think and clear my head. #picknmix xx
Love this – especially buying fresh flowers each week. I got quite a few bunches for my birthday a few weeks ago and I was surprised at how happy they made me. So now, like you, I’m planning on buying more fresh flowers and helping the house look a lot more spring like 🙂 #picknmix
Helen x
http://treasureeverymoment01.blogspot.co.uk/
ooh I like it- funnily enough I love having fresh flowers but always think of them as a bit of a frivolous purchase, however I wouldn’t think twice about spending the same amount on a coffee! Maybe I will switch one coffee a week for a bunch of pretty flowers (which last a lot longer!) #PicknMix
I can identify with everything on your list. I love Kate’s blog and that was a brilliant post. I really don’t know what mine would be but I also need to stop caring what others’ think. Hope it helps to make you happier.
Oh this is brilliant! You have inspired me to write my own – love the idea of buying flowers every week! I also wish I had more time to read (can you believe I seriously thought I was going to write a novel on my maternity leave ) I need less phone time and more creative time! Popping by from #PicknMix
Ooh I really like this idea. By writing it down, it kind of seals it, doesn’t it? I hope you get to do all of these things and more. I’m going for the fresh flowers once a week thing, too. They really do brighten my day. Actually your list sounds a LOT like mine. Reading is also something I’ve started doing more of just recently. I decided that I would buy a new book once a month. Think I need to write one of these lists!
I like that list and would love for them all to be non negotiable myself! I am not sure how good I would be at it though! I particularly like the reading and fresh flowers 🙂 #PicknMix
That’s a good list. I especially like the idea of buiyng fresh flowers every week, that’s a simple way to cheer up both yourself and your house while knowing you’ve achieved one of your goals. Good luck, I hope you manage to stick to them. #PicknMix
Goodness I love this! So joyful. I always talk myself out of buying flowers if no one is coming round but I might make it a non negotiable 🙂 #picknmix
I love your list. I think it is a great idea to get flowers in once a week. I used to do this before the kids were born and it somehow was forgotten about over the years. Must start to do that again. #PicknMix
Everything on your list would be on my list, it’s so hard to find time for yourself these days. I particularly relate to the reading and exercise, I really enjoy doing these and have not done enough since having little one. I also used to cook and make cakes this too has taken a back seat. Maybe I need to put my non negotiables list together. Claire X #PickNMix
I love your list! I would have read a book on mine. Since welcoming my baby girl 6 weeks ago i have yet to pick up a book and that has been hard for me as i am a total book worm! xx
#picknmix
I love this. I think I might make one and stick it up somewhere to remind me to make time for me! I just feel guilty when I do because there is always so much that needs to be done! Good luck with your list lovely xx #Picknmix
You’ve pretty much written my list here if I wrote one 😉
Stevie xx
This is such a great list, and I love the first one regarding the flowers. On the rare occasion we have fresh flowers in the house it really makes a difference! And well done on having a list which is just for you. So important and easily overlooked. Mums put themselves so far down the list and it really doesn’t have to be that way! 🙂 Kathy xx #PicknMix
I’m loving your blog more and more at the moment, I really enjoy your more personal posts like this one. You say a lot of things that resonate with me – the giving so much of yourself to everyone else – it’s exhausting isn’t it? I think you should definitely believe in yourself and look after yourself more often! #picknmix