Your non-negotiable rules for your wellbeing / feeling good?

[FullyLined]

I am currently on a relaxing AI holiday for 10 days with time, headspace and access to any food and drink 24/7. This has given me opportunity to exercise in the morning, and eat and drink healthily, slow down my brain and finally all the things that serve me well are coming into focus. None are new but become sporadic when I am back to real life. So, I am typing them up now and will print out when I get back and place strategically around the house. Happy to share mine here, but looking for inspiration from others, what rules do you stick by to make sure you feel good, physically and mentally?

I have lots of these but I also add having a pot of tea and doing Wordle/NYT puzzles with my husband. We do this almost every day.
Recently had my prenatal health visitor appointment and I was weirdly conflicted when she told me I was "clearly prioritising self care" I know she meant it positively, but I almost felt guilty.
I usually work in a full time leadership role, (maternity ATM) and already have one child, and I could not survive or be good at any of it if I didn't carve out the wellbeing time. I really don't think it's about being perfect like a pp said, far more about oiling the wheels/sharpening the axe!

I do the NYT puzzles every day, didn't count that as self care 😆

Gosh everyone sounds amazingly organised and happy and not an ounce of stress or anxiety seems to interfere with their regimes. I’m impressed.
I mean I aim to prioritise all things good for me but sometimes shit gets in the way. For example I woke up at four am this morning worrying about a work problem -Then resolved it after about an hour and then got woken about 6.30am to say my MiL had died. So you know life gets in the way…

@lissie123 I think that's more realistic tbh

Be kind to myself. Which doesn't come naturally to me.

I'm so sorry for your loss. When life is shit, it's important to be kind to yourself and realistic about what you can do to make yourself feel better.

Give fewer fucks

For me the most important thing is getting out for walks as often as possible, nearly every day if I can. I get depressed in the winter when it's not possible to do this.
I do plenty of other exercise too, but it's the walking that really helps my mental health.

This!

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy What's the 8 second rule?

People just have different lifestyles and preferences, and what comes easily to them.

I’d find it hard to start drinking as it makes me feel horrible during, dislike the taste and it makes me feel mentally unwell over the following days. Also can’t tolerate more than 1-2 without being tipsy.

Exercise, again, if I don’t get any, I start feeling unwell quite quickly and go to a quite dark place. I’d literally be climbing walls after a couple of days and get quite annoying to be around.

I’ve always lived like this, even as a teen/ young adult, so getting into a different lifestyle, eg drinking at night, would require significant effort from me and I’d struggle to ‘stick with it’ - as weird as that sounds 😄 Whereas most people I know that do that started at a young age and it’s a habit/ part of the rut.

For me it’s quite simple really- SLEEP.
I was massively sleep deprived for a large chunk of my 20s and 30s cause I just didn’t realise how crucial it is / thought I was some sort of superhero.
Now, I do not compromise on sleep, and daily life is much more manageable.

I had a very similar life from 24-29. Fond memories! Now aged 44, I do all those things again as my children are now 13 and 14. But with the added benefit of being a mum, which I love more than anything else.

Do you have a swimming pool @ElleintheWoods ?

All this moisturising! 🧴🧴🧴

Ooo me too. Love em. Podcasts too!

Not at home but about 10 mins away, with a big outdoor area with sun loungers. Quite often I’m reluctant to go on holiday as the hotel set-up won’t be as nice as at home in the UK.

sounds lovely! Are you a member of the hotel gym?

We are posting about the things we do to get the lost out of life. Of course “life” gets in the way and no one is saying otherwise

I think this will have the biggest impact on me. I've started leaving phone and laptop downstairs at night. It means last thing I just read or do stretches instead of doomscrolling. Early days but I wake up happier. And read more books.

Jealous of the sleep on here!!
I am chronically sleep deprived. Never get enough sleep. It can take me ages to fall asleep. I would like more sleep!!

For me it’s spending some mindful time with my animals. I have horses and often it’s just one big rush but taking a few minutes out just to kiss those soft noses and appreciate them for being them and remember why I got into all of this all those years ago helps.

Putting myself in 'receptive mode' to read this thread as I have very little of the above but very much want to create more. Much of my time goes on negotiating / avoiding deeply ingrained friction with my children's dad who needs to discuss everything and manages his anxiety by diverting that energy into contrition and conflict. My job doesn't help either, nor does having a disabled DC, but I honestly think I could carve out some pockets of actually dedicated well-being time around work commitments and caring responsibilities were I not managing the former all the time. Hence moving towards separating. Onwards and upwards.
The wellbeing non-negotiables I do have take no time or effort:
No alcohol
Home-cooked mainly vegetarian food every meal
A habit of appreciating the wonder and beauty of nature in all its expressions
A gratitude mindset

At least 2 runs a week ideally in the woods or on a route I enjoy not just running on the roads!
Working part time (i have a one year old but don't overly see myself going back full time ever now 😂)
Spending at least 15 mins in the garden every day.
Tidy house.
Tea.

I craft (crochet or knitting or painting ) one late afternoon a week. I walk iron the beach every morning & I take time to read every evening. It’s helping

love this thread

my non negotiable are

drink min 2L water
really good coffee in the morning
run 3 xs a week
out in nature every day
no rushing! Even if it means I have to get up early
Quiet time every day - usually take myself to bed v. early and read or do some self care
skincare routine and all over body moisturizer
Meal planning
Cook mainly from scratch
Dh pulls his weight with house/mental load
Work PT
1 hour nap every work day due to the hours I work
Barely any alcohol (couple times a year)
Try to get enough sleep