I’m guessing you’ve landed here because you’re curious about daily non negotiables, right? Whether it’s a new-to-you phrase or you know what they are, I hope this guide gives you some useful tips and ideas that you can take away and turn into daily habits.
What is a daily non negotiable?
Let’s start with the basics. A daily non negotiable is a habit that you complete every day, which is why people also call them “non-negotiable habits.”
These daily habits are often centered around specific goals or help the person get closer to their ideal self. They can be big tasks or little things that help someone live live the way they want.
You could have daily non negotiables across different life categories, like:
- Personal growth and self-improvement
- Family life
- Relationships
- Career and work
- Home
- Wellbeing
- Self care and wellness
The idea behind daily non negotiables is that they’re an agreement you sign with yourself. You decide to take care of these tasks daily, in pursuit of a goal or way of life. Getting started can take a while, but once you’ve established the habits they almost run on autopilot — but with more mindfulness!
How to decide on your non negotiables
Everyone will have different goals or focus areas. Some daily non negotiables are great for everyone (like getting enough sleep), while others might be specific to your own journey.
If you’re wondering how to figure out which daily habits to include, here’s my advice.
1. Align your habits with your goals
Think about your big goals, and the small goals, and all the ones in-between. Which habits could help you get there quicker? Which habits do you need to build in order to hit your targets and achieve your dream life?
An example might be if your goal is to start your own business, but first you need to build up experience before you go it alone. Dedicate some time every day to your passion project or side hustle and you’ll gain experience at a quicker pace than if you only did this on the weekends.
2. Make your daily habits achievable
Habits are hard to stick with, especially if you aim too high and make them unachievable. Think about the habit or practice you want to build into your daily routine, and make it the smallest possible version.
Doing this allows you to bring a habit into your daily life without it becoming overwhelming. When things are tough, we feel more inclined to give up. Give yourself the best chance of success by keeping your new habit small and achievable.
For example, your ideal daily non negotiable might be to complete an in-depth skincare routine every night before you head to bed. It’s a great idea, but sometimes you’re more tired than usual or you’ve spent longer than you thought playing video games. If you simplify your skincare routine, you can make sure you check it off every night — instead of having to miss it when you’re exhausted or busy.
3. Personalize your daily non negotiables
There are some generic daily habits that work well for most people — like getting enough sleep and eating enough food. You can start with these (and they’re definitely more than worthwhile!) but I’ve found that personalizing my daily habits means I’m more likely to stick to them.
Instead of a generic habit, try and look for a way you can make it feel more “you.” For example, if your habit is to make your bed every morning, transform it into a self care moment by also giving your room a quick spritz with a room spray, or make it productive by tidying up your nightstand at the same time.
4. Be experimental
Your daily non negotiables won’t be the same forever. While you might adopt some habits for good, others might come and go — and that’s okay! Take an experimental approach to your daily habits and you’ll be far more successful.
For example, a daily gratitude journal habit might transform into a habit of writing morning pages instead. Your “drink more water” habit might become more specific, and you might decide that you need 2 hours of focused work time daily instead of 4. Be open to change and see where it takes you.
15 daily non negotiables for a successful and balanced life
Sometimes the best way to find your habits is to look at the daily routines of other people, which is why I’ve put together this list of daily non negotiable ideas.
You don’t have to pick up all these daily habits (that could be overwhelming!) but I wanted to include a range of ideas so you can mix and match a few that will work for your goals and lifestyle.
I’ve tried to list these non-negotiable daily habits in the order you might complete them, but you can always change things up based on how you work best.
1. Complete your morning routine
A simple morning routine is great daily habit to start with. Whether you leap out of bed, make a matcha, and journal, or take it slow with deep breaths, meditation, and a skincare routine, figuring out your morning rhythm can help set the tone for the day.
💛 Tip: Try my slow morning routine!
2. Make your bed
Making your bed is an excellent way to start the day, as it’s quick, easy, and means you’ve already checked off one “easy” task before you’ve even left the room. Make this a part of your day that you look forward to — a signal that you’re starting the day right.
3. Check your daily schedule
Walking into the unknown can make the day feel unsettling. Set some time aside in the morning to review your daily schedule. Check for meetings, priorities, work blocks, birthdays, and things you need to remember.
4. Drink enough water
Make sure you drink enough water every day! Recent research found that 25% of adults only drink 1-2 glasses of water per day. Nourish your body with plenty of the good stuff to stay hydrated and keep your energy levels good.
5. Eat nourishing meals
Take care of your body by enjoying fulfilling, nutritious meals. Everyone’s different, so decide which meals to eat, when to eat them, and what they should include based on your individual needs and personal goals.
6. Move your body
Moving your body is a healthy habit to bring into your everyday life. Physical activity can be anything from a gentle stroll around the block, to a pilates reformer class, or enjoying an at-home workout. Match your moving habit to your goals and what you can achieve right now so that it stays sustainable.
7. Be intentional with social media time
Social media can be both good and bad for our mental health, so if you know it affects you then it’s wise to set some boundaries around how long you use and it when this happens. Decide that you won’t use social media first thing in the morning, or set aside dedicated time to scroll through your favorite Instagram and TikTok accounts.
💛 Tip: Check out my guide on digital self care habits for some ideas.
8. Create focus time for work
It can be hard to make sure you spend enough time focused on work — especially if you’re freelance (like me!) or work remotely. Carve out dedicated focused time for your work so you can make real progress towards your goals. If you don’t work, you could swap this for study or the pursuit of a passion project or big life goal.
9. Check in with loved ones
Build better relationships with friends and family members by including time to connect with them as a daily non negotiable. This could be a text message, phone call, dropping some love in a group chat, or writing them an old-fashioned snail mail letter.
10. Spend time outside
Getting some sunshine on your face and breathing in the fresh air can do wonders for the way you feel. Dedicate some time to being outside every single day — even if it’s just for a few moments. I’ve found this helps you stick with other habits too, especially if you’re trying to encourage yourself to venture more outside your home.
11. Do the laundry
For anyone that takes care of lots of laundry, this is a useful daily habit to get into. Put on a laundry load every single day and you should soon be completely up to date. Any days you don’t have laundry to do, that’s a bonus! Stick on a playlist or podcast episode to help time pass as you prep laundry and fold clothes.
12. Prepare for the next day
Just like you start the day by reviewing your tasks, do the same for the end of the day. Give yourself the best chance to succeed by knowing in advance what you need to do, so you can walk into the next day prepared.
13. Do the closing shift
Keep your home looking and feeling good by doing the “closing shift” every day. This daily habit involves tidying up your kitchen and giving it a quick clean at the end of the day — named after the closing shift at a restaurant. Future you will thank you for the beautifully tidy kitchen the next day.
💛 Tip: Take some ideas from my nightly cleaning routine to create your own closing shift.
14. Complete your evening routine
A morning routine can set the tone for the day, and an evening routine helps you transition smoothly into the night. Create an evening routine filled with calming, relaxing, and self care activities that guide you towards a good night’s sleep — like journaling, skincare, and reading a non fiction book.
15. Go to bed early
Getting into bed so you can get enough sleep every night is an A-tier daily non negotiable. It can take some getting used to if you usually stay up late, but try and head to bed early enough every night to get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep every single night.
Set yourself up for success with daily non negotiables
Good habits take time to develop, but once they’re part of your daily routine they almost run automatically. I hope this blog post has helped you find some new ideas you can add to your daily routine for a healthier, happier, more “you” way of living!
Daily non negotiables FAQs
Have a question about daily habits and non negotiables? Here are some of the questions I see the most and my best answers!
What are good daily non negotiables?
The best daily non negotiables are the ones that align with your needs and goals, but some good examples include: drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, spending time with loved ones, making time for your career, and having a morning and evening routine.
How do you come up with your non negotiables?
Think about your goals or what you want your dream life to look like. What kind of habits does that person have? What do they do every day to help them live at their best? Take inspiration from this to create a series of simple daily non negotiables that you can complete every day.
What are some non negotiables at work?
Most of the ideas I’ve included here are designed for your personal or private life, but you can also introduce non negotiables at work!
Here are some examples of work-related non negotiables you could try out:
- Say good morning when you arrive
- Stay hydrated with water, not just coffee
- Eat lunch away from your desk
- Talk to a coworker
- Leave work on time, don’t stay too late
These are great ways to set boundaries and keep yourself happy and healthy at work.
Do I have to complete the same tasks every single day?
The idea behind daily non negotiables is that you complete the tasks on a daily basis, so that’s every day. It doesn’t matter if you miss a day or two — remember to give yourself grace! If a habit works better on a different schedule, try making it a weekly habit instead.
Should you have daily, weekly, and monthly non negotiables?
If something doesn’t work as a daily habit but it’s something you’d still like to do, it’s absolutely a great idea to create a weekly or monthly non negotiable instead. It’s harder to track these though, so use a digital or printed journal to keep yourself in check.
How do I track my daily non negotiables?
The best way to track your progress on daily non negotiables is with a journal or a daily checklist. You can create these online using Notion or a spreadsheet, or look for a journal or to-do list that has the type of fields you’re looking for.
Should my non negotiables be specific?
It’s a good idea to make your non negotiables specific, so that you definitely know when you’ve completed them. Like I said before, I also found that being specific and making them personal makes them easier to stick with!
How long does it take to build a new habit?
There’s different research out there on this, but experts suggests that it takes anywhere between a few weeks and a few months to form a new habit. This means you’ll want to stick at it past the first weeks to give it the best possible chance of becoming a regular part of your daily routine.
Can you change your non negotiables?
Of course! Don’t feel like just because you’ve chosen a habit in the beginning that you have to stick with it. Be flexible with your daily habits and adjust them as and when you need to.
Where can I learn more about habits?
For learning about habits, I highly recommend checking our James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits.” It’ll give you a new way of thinking about habits and you’ll find how to build them in a sustainable way.
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