It is important to have a clear, specific, measurable goal. For example, a clear goal could be: I will lose 15 pounds in the next three months.
It is equally important to have process goals to go along with this:
- I will prep my meals each day
- I will workout 3-5 days a week
- I will drink 2-3 liters of water a day
We talk a lot about process goals to help us achieve our outcome goal. Whether the outcome is losing weight, achieving better health, or having more time to spend with family, having process goals will hold you accountable and give you the structure to reach the outcome.
It is equally important to have a non-negotiable to help you stick to your process goals.
Maybe your goal is to lose 10 pounds this month, and you have a process goal of prepping meals for the week. A non-negotiable would be: “At work, I will only eat what I prepare for lunch each day. I will not eat junk my company or co-workers bring in.”
This will hold you accountable to stick with the process that will help you achieve your goal. Having 2-4 non-negotiables in place will keep you on track and prevent you from slipping into bad habits.
At one of our nutrition seminars, a lot of our members brought up how challenging it is to stick to a plan when their company caters in low nutrient, high-calorie food like pizza or fried foods. These are the times you want to have the non-negotiable in place so you can stick to your plan.
Think of it like dating. Would you settle for someone who smacks their lips every time they take a bite of food? If it drove you crazy, I bet you wouldn’t. Think of your non-negotiable the same way.
Don’t settle for less.
Many times people or events will tempt you to throw your non-negotiable to the wayside. These people may not mean you harm or they may not even understand the actions they are asking you to take could damage your progress.
It’s important to stay strong at these times. There will always be temptations out there that can sabotage you, deliberately intended to or not. Some people are jealous of success. Other people may be stuck in a rut, ashamed of their own situation and afraid to take action; they don’t want to see you succeed because what will that make them?
It is important to realize there will always be people and things that can get in the way of your progress. Stick to your goals and don’t let anyone negotiate with you on your non-negotiable.
You can develop a non-negotiable to become more productive and successful in any facet of life.
“I want to be more productive at work.”
- Non-Negotiable: Turn off my cell phone between the hours of 10 and 4.
“I want to spend more time with family.”
- Non-Negotiable: Schedule an hour when you get home to talk with loved ones free from distractions.
“I want to eat more clean, whole foods.”
- Non-Negotiable: Every Sunday I will buy my groceries for the week. I’ll spend 5-10 min every night prepping my food for the next day.
The goal is not to become so rigid as to exclude new people and opportunities from your life. The goal is to establish a routine that will help you accomplish your goals, help you differentiate that which is essential to you.
By declaring your outcome goal, defining the process goals that will help along the way, and establishing a routine of non-negotiables, you choose how to live your life so you can become the best version of you.