Hi all,
As you all know, how tumultuous this year has been, personally, professionally, and even globally. 2025, ruled by Mars, sure had its outbursts. But not all is or was bad. And on this side of the internet, we talk about the flowery part of life, not the disturbing news like areas. Yes, I do not like the news; it was a personal bias attack.
Anyways, my year started on a very high note, but towards the third month, all dreams and goals began to look like a far-fetched, unlivable dream, partly due to situations I was in and partly because I accepted that fate.
Instead of trying to improve or get out of my own sort of hell, I kept complaining and crying. At the time, it felt like I was trying my all to get out and improve my scenario, but in reality, it was hardly me paddling as I drowned.
I am sure we all find ourselves in such deep pits at times. And we think we are doing the best we can to survive it or meet our dream life, but oftentimes, we are hardly doing even the most basic of things to keep our heads above the water.
It is in those deep pits I realised that the basic habits, rituals, mindsets, or even routines that kept me sane before I got burdened with extra responsibility or got stuck in an unending problem loop, slowly dissipated and received less and less energy or effort from my end, leading me into not just physical but mental health issues.
I am here to share my top non-negotiable habits, practices, and mindsets, the ones which, when I started to implement again (ps: towards the second half of the year), have helped me tremendously to get back on track and lead a much more fulfilled life even with similar problems as before.
Choose what resonates and start implementing any or all. If not, find or look back at your past years and see which habits, practices, and mindsets helped you a lot (which you gave up on simply because life got in the way). Make these 4 or 5 things your non-negotiables, do not hit the bed before you do these, even if that’s the only thing you do that day.
Here we go,
Monthly and Quarterly checkups
Inspired by my favourite YouTuber TAM KAUR, I started this practice in 2024. I used to do it before as well, but never came close to the version of it I adapted in 2025, thanks to the motivations received by TAM.
If you had made a list of goals at the beginning of 2025 and read that blog of mine, you know what I am talking about.
Those of you who haven’t, kindly check that out for the sake of this point. Make a few intentional goals and get back here.
To the point now, how many of us have left those goal lists untouched since January?
I am guessing many. But not me, not this year at least. This is the first year I was successful in keeping in touch with those goals by using a few simple techniques and achieving many as well.
Firstly, having a vision board and staring at it every morning and night helps with your goals and your dream life. This way your goals stare back into your soul, making you want to show up. There are many other reasons why it works, but let’s stick to the topic at hand for now.
Secondly, having a monthly checkup. So, what you do is set an alarm for every 30th or 31st of the month and show up. All you need to do then is simply write down all the highlights of the month, be it in your journal, notepad, or using Snapchat memories and marking them as favourites. Then move on and do the same for your downfalls, it could be habits, mindsets, abrupt situations, financial crunch, procrastination, prioritising other areas, etc. Now, (if you followed my method you would have list of goals broken down from main 2025 goals for every month) check which goals have been completed and which haven’t and why not, it could also be an update to those goals that no longer interest you since you evolved as a person from January to now, remove them, update your goal list and move forward doing the same for next month.
Another way to make it more efficient is when you make your TO DO lists for the days or weeks, look back at your monthly goals to align the actions you take each day. It gets you closer to ticking off all the goals you made in January, as well as the tasks at hand for the day, based on your job/work. This way you prioritise both your current situation and the life you wanna build for yourself.
It has worked wonders for me, and I have attempted it every single month this year; results are incredible indeed!
Workouts
Don’t hate me for this point, but it’s needed, and I will repeat it in every single blog I write if need be. Choose your type of fitness. Your aim could be walking 5000 steps per day or going to the gym four times a week, or yoga every day for 20 minutes, or as small as just moving your body in any way every single day (dance while cooking, go for a 10-minute walk during breaks, join zumba, etc).
Now, I do not need to go on listing the benefits of exercise. What I will share is my personal experience as a person who hated it.
This habit has been part of my goals list since the time I first started making goals, i.e, probably 10 years back. But I have never shown up for it as I do now (some days grudgingly as well) simply because it’s my non-negotiable. I need to schedule time for exercise, or I simply cannot be. I made myself that promise, and it’s only when I took my non-negotiables seriously that they worked.
I don’t go to the gym every day, but on days I don’t, I do yoga. And days I can’t do both, I might go play table tennis or walk for an hour with my friends on call just to make it a tad bit easier.
I feel the need to include a cliche quote here, so as you all know, “Everything is hard until it isn’t”.
I believe Exercise, due to its benefits, must be a non-negotiable for all. And you have many ways to make it fun and not exhausting, so why the wait?
I have noticed that ever since I started taking my non-negotiables, especially exercising seriously (like going to the gym simply for the sake of going and not to see instant results), I have improved literally every other area of my life. I got disciplined naturally, and observed what I was eating and putting in my body. The fogginess of thoughts cleared up and gave me clarity on so many topics that kept me stuck before; it gave me the energy I thought I never had, and so much more. Now, whenever I am in a rut, I notice that I have been slacking in these 3 activities, and I’m stuck for that reason, 3 habits being: Exercising, meditating and journaling.
That brings me to my next set of non-negotiable habits:
Meditation and Journaling
You can start with 1 page a day and 5 minutes of breathwork. Some days when it’s extra hard to devote time, simply show up.
I once wrote at 11:59 pm just before bed, “I had an exhausting, tiresome day and have no energy left, so I am simply showing up and will write today’s entry tomorrow,” and it worked. It worked, especially because of perfectionism. I knew if I didn’t show up one day, I would probably not go back at all and would have to start building this habit all over again after a few months.
Remember, starting something is always the hardest; once you are in, you just need to show up. On some days, that 1 line motivates me to sit, and the next thing I know, I have written over 2 pages. Try it.
Similarly, you can choose breathwork, or try guided meditation to sleep, sound healing, or any other form of meditation.
Why did I choose this?
We know there are many benefits of these practices, which are written and preached by almost everyone. But your reason has to be very personal, or else you won’t show up.
You might start by watching a motivational video or talks, but it will fade. And your personal reason will keep you going. So sit down and ask why you need these non-negotiable habits, why these habits are important to you, and how they help keep you sane.
I started journaling when I was in middle school. At first, it was because of a trend. But after trying various different journaling techniques and failing at being consistent with most, I know now what works for me and why.
I use my journal in 2 ways: firstly, for venting, I did not want to turn to people and start gossiping when a healthy vent would satiate the feelings, and secondly, I use it to manifest and keep myself accountable.
My journal sits with all my wishes, everything that goes wrong, all my self-realizations and introspections, all that I would have planned for the upcoming months, how I did or did not achieve them, and most importantly, what I felt every single day. It contains my scribbles, my tears, my laughs, my own ways to make sense of the world, my doubts, and all that I am. But it’s not as complicated as it sounds, it just goes mostly 1 page a day, i.e, 10 minutes a day, and my head is then clear to experience, try and live freely in the upcoming moments without any baggage holding me down or any worries keeping me at bay.
I started meditating again in middle school, but was never ever consistent with any form of it. But I was clear that this is one practice that I definitely want to keep and improve on.
Why?
Because it connects me to the Universe, to the silence, to my own thoughts I have been running away from. It helps me slow down and not get carried away by one bad or good day. But most importantly, I always think life cannot be just what we do, see, or feel every day; it’s much larger than it all. I believe in spirituality, and I feel I dig deep with every single meditation and feel a little bit closer to understanding that side of the world.
Those are my WHYs, what are yours?
“What will my ideal self do now” attitude?
I spoke about this in my previous blog, and I still can’t stress it enough. The perspective or narrative change I needed was all just in this sentence, “What will my ideal self do,” and you have your answers for every single decision you have been mulling over for months.
It is not only powerful manifestation tool but also a very positive outlook on life.
You will actually witness life through the lens of your dream self. You will be your dream self in those moments and show up like it. Try today. Look at your vision boards, your goal list, your dreams, your Pinterest board, and ask how this person that I want to become shows up every single day. Be as detailed as possible and then mimic that confidently.
Water Affirmations
This is a practice I started post-2021. I started reading and implementing the effects of positive talk and affirmations on our body and mind, especially right before going to bed or as soon as I wake up.
When your brain is in that same mode as it is during deep meditative hours, it’s very influential, so why not use that to rewire it the best way possible?
The first thing I do as soon I wake up is grab a small glass of water, get it closer to you, close your eyes and say into it your affirmations (as if its already happened, eg. I feel safe and happy in this beautiful house), or your mantras or just stand and feel positive energy from the universe being transferred into the glass through your hands, feel the same as you later drink that water, sip it intentionally, feeling those energies being transferred to you.
This is a great mindfulness practice and is best to start your day with. Again, it hardly takes 2 minutes and gives you a great head start for your day.
Reading
I have talked about this in many other blogs. I love reading. I have become more and more intentional with it as the years have gone by.
Every year I keep a goal of reading 1 or 2 books per month, and a practice of reading at least 10 pages a day. I read non-fiction in the mornings and sometimes end the day with fictional books. This is one practice I can proudly say that I have been consistent with, and it has helped me tremendously.
Self-help every morning gives intention to my day. It also makes waking up easy, and I’m waking up to a slow morning with a book and a cup of tea. I don’t like rushed mornings, and this is a best practice if you feel the need for slow mornings, just like I do.
Quit looking at your screens and give that first hour post-waking to these mindful exercises that rewire your brain, and ultimately your reality for the better.
I hope this blog inspired you to listen to your body, mind, and gut, to start your own non-negotiable practices from today.
Thank you for reading.
Catch you in the next one.
Having a problem rotuine helps in staying disciplined, even when we don’t feel motivated. Thank you for sharing your experience. It has inspired me to focus more on my work and growth.
That’s so great to hear!! Thankyou for this comment!! 😊