Creating Your Own “To Don’t” List

To do vs. To don’t lists.  I am guessing your “To Do” list is endless, but what about your “To Don’t” list? 

These 5 “To Don’ts” can change the way you prioritize your list.  

• Don’t forget to create and take ME time every day.  Often, I hear clients say they have no time in their day to exercise and they spend little to no time on themselves.  Take your calendar and seriously look at where your time is spent.  For 1 week look at your schedule and then record what you actually did.  You may find more free time than you thought by just being conscious of it.  Now schedule ME time. 

Solution = Your finally making your health priority #1Don’t be afraid to say NO

• Do you constantly change your schedule to meet others needs?  Are you always adding items to your list because of someone else?  Learning to say NO and setting boundaries is a selfish act and it should be.  What kinds of activities drain your energy?  Are you always stressed out?  What do you keep putting on you’re to do list that never gets done?  When you become conscious of your energy zappers, you can then refocus, delegate and cross those things off you’re never ending, unfinished to do list. 

Solution = Do it, delegate it or forget it, don’t stress about it.    

• Don’t clean your plate.  How many of you grew up hearing mom say you can’t leave the table until you clean your plate?  How often do you eat something just because you feel obligated?  What will they think?  Avoid embarrassment by being honest with your friends and family that you are creating healthier habits and taking care of YOU.  I eat on salad plates; the regular plates are just too big.  Another tip cut anything you eat outside of your home in half.  Restaurant portions are usually 2-3 times larger, box it up before you even start and if it’s something that isn’t the best for you, have the waitress take half away.  

Solution = Portion control is one of the easiest ways to lose a few pounds.

•  Don’t keep doing the same old thing.  You are motivated and believe this time you will do it.  So why didn’t it work?  Because ladies; the latest diet, gimmick or quick fix never works, if it did you wouldn’t be doing it AGAIN.  Creating healthier eating and exercise habits DO work.  You are never too old or out of shape to change.  A habit; whether good or bad is just something that you do over and over, so choose to do something different, it takes 21 days to form a new habit.

Solution = Eating well and exercise makes for a happier, healthier you.

• Don’t forget to listen to your body and exercise.  Listen to your body, if you are fatigued or in pain, it’s not natural and is an indicator that something is wrong.  30 minutes of exercise daily will increase your energy level and start you on the path to being the healthiest woman you can be. 

Solution = Choose to be miserable or Choose to be healthy, it really is that easy.

 It’s your choice to be healthy and yours alone.  Choose wisely.  After you have accomplished some of the above changes, you should find that by taking charge of your day and creating a time that works, you will have more energy and less stress.


This article was written by me and published by the (CSWEN) Colorado Springs Women's Express Network newsletter.