My non negotiable's for this year
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The non-negotiables I am committing to this year, this is not about motivation, its about structure.
When you start again later in life, you do not need more inspiration. You need guardrails. You need decisions made in advance. You need systems that gently but firmly guide you away from old patterns and back towards what you are building.
These are my non-negotiables for the year ahead. Not rules to punish myself but to keep me in check and focused.
1. Structure over chaos. I am no longer relying on “I’ll figure it out as I go” as a strategy. Each week has a rhythm. Each day has intention. Not every hour is planned, but the priorities are clear. Structure gives me freedom. It protects my energy and stops me defaulting to old habits when I feel overwhelmed.
2. One main focus at a time. I am not trying to do everything at once anymore. Right now, my focus is clear, opening The Wellness Tavern, funded through my art and supported by intentional work. If something does not support that direction, it waits. Clarity is a form of self respect.
3. Boundaries that do not require explanation. I am no longer negotiating my time, energy, or focus.
I do not need to justify:
- Saying no
- Changing my mind
- Choosing rest
- Protecting my peace
If something drains me, distracts me, or pulls me backwards, it does not get access. This is not about cutting people out, It's about choosing myself.
4. Health as infrastructure, not reward. My health is no longer something I earn after working hard. Sleep, movement, cold water, strength, breath, diet. These are not optional extras, they are the foundation. If I want to build something meaningful, I need a regulated nervous system and a body I listen to. I have set a timetable for early morning walks with Neil, Peloton classes every other day and weight training wherever I am using just my own body weight or kettlebells so I have no excuses if I can't get to a gym.
5. Financial honesty at all times. I am choosing reality over avoidance. I know what comes in, I know what goes out. I make decisions based on facts, not fear or fantasy. Saving money, even slowly, is a non-negotiable. Stability comes before expansion. This is how I rebuild trust with myself.
6. Creativity every week, whether it feels easy or not. Creativity is not something I wait to feel inspired for, I make, I experiment, I show up. Some weeks the work will be beautiful. Some weeks it will be clunky. Both count. My art is not a side project. It is part of the plan. Creativity has got me through many things in my life and I want to enjoy the process again without feeling I have to survive through it.
7. Learning instead of numbing. When I reach for distraction, I pause, am I tired?, am I avoiding something?, am I overwhelmed? I am choosing education, reflection, and curiosity over endless scrolling and numbing habits. Not perfectly, but consciously. I use social media a lot for my business but I have to stick to just that and not stay online and get hooked on the doom scrolling.
8. Weekly reflection, without judgement. Every week I check in, what worked, what didn’t, what I need more of, what I need less of, no spiralling, no shame, just information. Progress comes from awareness, not punishment.
9. Consistency over intensity. I am done with all or nothing thinking, small actions, repeated. Gentle discipline, steady momentum. This is how things actually get built.
10. Trusting myself to follow through. This might be the most important non-negotiable of all, I am no longer questioning my own ability to see things through. I have lived enough life to know:
I am capable.
I am resilient.
I am allowed to begin again.
This year is not about becoming someone new it's about creating conditions where the best version of me can actually show up. These non-negotiables are not restrictive, they are supportive.They are how I stay focused, how I build structure and how I gently guide myself away from old patterns and towards the life I am choosing now, same person, new chapter.
The fact I can sit here for longer than a few minutes and type something is a massive turn of events and a pattern changed.
Onwards and upwards x
5 comments
Thank you for affirming its not selfish to choose inner peace. Hitting the big 40 oct this year and I promised myself to build boundirss to protect myself. Feeling bad for not being my usual people releasing self. Knowing your not alone during a new phase and so many others are also learning to path that yellow rick road 🫶🏻💫✨️
Thank you Zoè,
Loved it!
In bed reading your blog no longer feeling guilty because this is me and my work time.
Looking to sign up for your one to one business session but had that mental block what I actually need support with because the list felt endless and panicking I’m running out of time! You’ve just taught me to let my questions come naturally even if it’s another week because we’ll get more out of the session.
Lorraine
Xx
Thank you Zoè,
Loved it!
In bed reading your blog no longer feeling guilty because this is me and my work time.
Looking to sign up for your one to one business session but had that mental block what I actually need support with because the list felt endless and panicking I’m running out of time! You’ve just taught me to let my questions come naturally even if it’s another week because we’ll get more out of the session.
Lorraine
Xx
This is absolutely fantastic and has given me the starting point to actually write down my intentions for this year and beyond. I also have huge changes coming and need to protect my peace and health.
Following the retreat I was lucky enough to go to in Bali in November I am a different person with a lot more work to do.
I will share my intentions if you like once written. X💜
Very well written and clear. This is the perfect blueprint also what I’m ging to do this year. The struture like guardrails really hits and what I’ve been missing for years too. You are so capable for sure. You got this and some 😘🥰