Top 10 Daily Non-Negotiables for Success & Wellness

By setting clear daily non-negotiables, you are able to take charge of your day and, ultimately, guide the path of your life. Here are 10 of the top daily non-negotiable habits for a successful and happy life.

With so much of life being out of our control, it is nice to have a few simple things that we feel we have a say in. Having a list of daily non-negotiables is one of the best ways to take charge of your life through your day-to-day habits.

What is a daily non-negotiable?

This may seem obvious, but a daily non-negotiable is simple something you are not willing to negotiate.

It is a boundary, habit, routine, or activity that you are committed to – no matter what.

These are individualized depending on your own personal values, goals, lifestyle, beliefs, and morals. Oftentimes, daily non-negotiables involve setting boundaries – both with yourself and others.

These predetermined “rules” are here to help guide your life toward success and happiness.

When life throws unexpected things your way, they can help connect you back to the basics. They keep you in control of your life.

For me, my non-negotiables ensure that I care for my mental and physical health daily.

They keep me productive and aligned with my goals. They encourage me to stay true to myself and set boundaries with anything that comes to disrupt my peace.

Because of them, I can feel like I am in the driver’s seat of my own life.

My daily non-negotiables keep me focused, successful, and healthy, no matter the external circumstances I am facing.

Staying true to my daily non-negotiables has become a non-negotiable itself.

By establishing a set list of rules, boundaries, habits, and routines, my daily life has improved drastically. This is something I recommend all people establish for themselves in their daily lives.

Non-Negotiables in Different Areas of Life

Depending on your lifestyle and circumstances, you may need a wide range of non-negotiables for the different areas of your life.

RELATED POST: The 7 Main Areas of Life (+ Goals for Each)

For example, if you are in a marriage, you may have specific relationship non-negotiables that you and your partner are not willing to budge on.

Additionally, you may have employee non-negotiables for the way you are treated at work.

Just as there are many areas of life, there are many areas of non-negotiables.

It is up to you to determine your own non-negotiables for your life. Your non-negotiables are unique to you, your lifestyle, your boundaries, and your values.

That said, there are some daily non-negotiables that tend to be universally helpful for daily success, productivity, health, and overall well-being. Here are the top 10.

10 Daily Non-Negotiables for Success & Wellness

These are my top 10 daily non-negotiables that I commit to every day. On days that I miss one of these, I can notice a negative shift in the way I feel.

By incorporating these non-negotiables into my everyday routine, I have been able to establish a life of success, productivity, wellness, happiness, and balance.

From morning to night, here are my daily non-negotiables:

1. Get 8+ Hours of Sleep

This is a must – even if it means snoozing my alarm.

In my everyday life, I plan my bedtime accordingly so that I can wake up at the appropriate time and still get my 8+ hours of sleep.

On the rare occasion that I am up too late, I will compensate for that by adjusting my wake-up time.

I know that I do not function well on less than 8 hours of sleep.

Because of that, I have made this one of my daily non-negotiables. When I prioritize sleep, my days are happier, more productive, and more enjoyable.

Gone are the days that I would go weeks with only 3-4 hours of sleep every night. (Never again!!)

We all need our sleep. Whether that is 8 hours for you too or not, prioritize your sleep as a daily non-negotiable.

Find out how much rest you need to feel your best and make that a non-negotiable in your everyday life.

Your mind, body, and soul will thank you. (And so will the people that no longer have to deal with your sleep-deprived moods 😉 )

2. Make My Bed

This is a daily non-negotiable that is rather new to me.

I know that everyone says it: “Make your bed first thing in the morning!”, but, until recently, I was not doing this.

A couple of months ago, I picked up this habit and it has become a daily non-negotiable for me. I make my bed every day now.

Not only does it make my space clearer, but it starts me off on a good foot in the morning.

When I make my bed right away, I feel like I’ve already accomplished something that day and I carry that productive mindset with me through the rest of my morning.

It’s a great habit to get into.

3. Have a Morning Routine

This is a big one for me.

As someone who works from home, this has become especially important. I used to wake up, stumble down the hall, and start working right away without realizing the effect this was having on my mood and mental health.

Take time for yourself before anything else.

If I’ve learned one thing in the last few months, it’s that. Taking time for myself through a morning routine has been a game-changer.

Now, on workdays, I take time for my quick morning routine before I even think about cracking open my laptop.

On weekends, I treat myself to an even more relaxing morning routine.

Little things like this make a huge difference in your health, mindset, productivity, and overall well-being.

Making time for myself before anything else first thing in the morning is a major non-negotiable for me.

4. Get Outside

Getting outside for at least 10-15 minutes every single day is a non-negotiable.

Simply stepping outside has so many health benefits – both mentally and physically. When I start to feel overwhelmed, stepping out and taking a few deep breaths helps bring me back down into focus.

Somedays, I get outside by going for a walk or working out outdoors.

Other days, it is simply sitting on my deck and taking some deep breaths.

Find what feels right for you and add some outside time to your daily non-negotiables. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.

5. Move My Body

This does not have to be “exercise”. In fact, I encourage you to NOT exercise vigorously every day (too much exercise does more harm than good!).

However, I do aim to MOVE my body every single day.

Whether it be through a high-intensity interval circuit or with some gentle stretching, movement is great for the mind and body.

My favorite form of movement currently is gentle walks outside or a pilates/yoga class through Alo Moves.

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Try to focus your movement on how it makes you FEEL, rather than how it makes you look.

Do you feel more energetic after you move your body? More mental clarity? Better focus? Improved mood?

Those are some of my main “why”s behind my daily non-negotiable of movement.

6. Nourish My Body

Nourishing my body is a huge daily non-negotiable for me. This means eating well and eating ENOUGH.

As someone with a past of disordered eating, I know firsthand the effects of not properly nourishing your body. This means eating foods that fulfill your mental and physical needs.

Any form of restriction is bound to have negative effects on your well-being.

Since making proper nourishment a goal of mine, I feel happier, healthier, and more well-balanced than ever. I follow intuitive eating, something I recommend all people look into.

No matter what nourishment looks like to you, consider making proper, mindful, and enjoyable nourishment a non-negotiable in your daily life.

7. Screentime Limits

While I love my phone and I love social media, too much of anything isn’t good.

In an attempt to make Instagram more positive for me, I set some limits on the amount of time I spent on my phone every day. More specifically, the amount of time on social media.

As a social media manager (for my full-time job), a blogger (for my favorite side-hustle), and an ED recovery coach (also on social media), my screen time can get CRAZY high. I love what I do, but I did feel a need to set some boundaries – my daily non-negotiables.

RELATED POST: 10 Negative Effects of TikTok

Now, I have set limits in my phone settings to notify me when I’ve spent X amount of time on my social media apps. This allows me to check in and reminds me to take a break from the screens.

Setting this non-negotiable in life has been amazing for my mental health and my productivity.

8. Self-Care

Whether it be a quick 5-minute self-care activity or a full-blown self-care night, I am sure to make time for some form of self-care in my everyday life. Self-care is essential to our well-being.

Without it, we risk burnout, overwhelm, and other negative mental and physical consequences.

Making it an everyday habit to include some form of self-care in your routine can drastically improve your life.

9. Alone Time

As an introvert, alone time feels especially important, but I recommend this for everybody!

Spending time with yourself is a great way to connect with yourself, cultivate feelings of self-love, and build a better relationship with yourself.

Additionally, disconnecting from the outside world can be helpful in relieving stress and preventing burnout (especially if you work a social job or have a people-heavy lifestyle).

Even just 15-30 minutes of total alone-time can be great for recharging. Take this time to reflect, focus on your goals, or simply relax – it is totally up to you!

10. A Wind-Down Routine

A daily non-negotiable for me is a nighttime wind-down routine. Whether it be right after work or just before bed, taking some time to unwind allows me to release the day’s stresses and shift my mindset into one of relaxation.

@delaneylynnesmith

lil post-work self-care night!! #clockingout #weekdayselfcare #workfromhomelife #fyp

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This is a great time to incorporate some self-care (see daily non-negotiable #8) or some alone time (daily non-negotiable #9)!

Find something that brings you comfort and relaxation for your wind-down routine. For me, this often includes a good book or a comforting TV show.

Choose something that makes you feel good and commit to doing it daily! You deserve it.

Can your daily non-negotiables change?

Absolutely!

The whole point of having non-negotiables in life is to help guide you toward a life of health, happiness, fulfillment, success, and overall wellness!

If your non-negotiables are no longer fulfilling you, you absolutely can (and should!) change them.

As life shifts, you should adapt your daily habits, routines, and non-negotiables to better serve you.

Additionally, your daily non-negotiables should be unique to you.

While you can gain inspiration from others (or the ones I listed above), you should make them your own. No two people have the same life, values, goals, or priorities. Make your non-negotiables your own!

What are your daily non-negotiables?

What boundaries do you set in your everyday life?

How do you prioritize yourself?

In what ways do your non-negotiables serve you and the life you are working to create for yourself?

What daily non-negotiables do you have (or plan to establish)?

Leave a comment down below and let me know!

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