06/03/2026
At the Women in Business event last week I talked about a few simple ideas that can help us keep showing up when life and work get busy.
One of them was the idea of non-negotiables. Small anchors that you build into your routine to help keep you on track when things get messy. I like to think of them like the bumpers at a bowling alley.
When the ball drifts slightly off track, the bumper helps guide it back into play. Weeks get busy and plans get disrupted. Having two or three small anchors can help keep you moving in the right direction, or give you something to step back into when that happens.
For me, one that works well is making breakfast and lunch the night before. It removes decision fatigue in the morning, saves time, and means I can get a little extra sleep instead of rushing around trying to organise food before the day starts.
It also helps me start the day with a balanced breakfast containing a good hit of protein and fibre, which sets me up with more stable energy for the morning.
But your anchors might look completely different.
🎳 Committing to two walks each week
🎳 Not checking emails before 8am
🎳 Adding protein to breakfast
🎳 Booking a weekly gym session and treating it like a meeting
🎳 No screens after 9pm
Sometimes a non-negotiable isn’t about adding something. Sometimes it’s about protecting something. Saying no to one thing so you can say yes to your health.
The key is that they’re small enough to hold even when things are busy. Because busy doesn’t really go away. So, it's important to remember, that we don’t need perfect conditions to take care of ourselves. Often we just need a few steady anchors that keep us on track.
What’s one small anchor that helps keep you on track during busy weeks?
A walk, prepping breakfast the night before, booking a gym session, or something else?
