What are your "Rules for Life"?

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I was feeling swamped and chaotic recently.
 
So I started thinking about guidelines I could follow, to help me handle things as they came up, and feel more in control.

I wrote down a list of “Rules for Life”.
 
I don’t mean things like “be nice to people”, “say please and thank you”, or “treat others as you’d like to be treated”.
 
It’s more a personal list of what makes my life easier, and helps me in the day-to-day.
 
They’ll change as my situation changes. But right now, these things keep me on track:
 

1. Get out of bed when I wake up, rather than hitting snooze.
   
   Recently I’ve been going back to sleep after the alarm goes off... then I wake up feeling super groggy and yucky. Not a great way to start the day.
   
   
2. Don’t have a cup of tea first thing in the morning (unless I’m intentionally having a relaxing morning).
   
   I like to drink my tea slowly and enjoy it. So I ruin the benefits by downing a cup of tea as I wash the baby’s face, or rush around trying to pack a bag, for example.
   
   
3. Leave the house every day. 
   
   No explanation needed ;)
   
   
4. See my friends at least twice a week during the week. 
   
   (This depends on their schedule too, obviously.) Weekends we have lots on, but weekdays I have to consciously plan, so I’m not bouncing off the walls by Friday ;)
   
   
5. Have a go-to capsule wardrobe I love.
   
   My (ultimate) aim is: Open closet; see small number of items I love; put on lovely items :)
   
   
6. Batch meals, as often as I can.
   
   Dinners pre-prepared = zero stress thinking about what to cook every night... BIG win!
   
   
7. Be ready by 9am in the morning. 
   
   That (for me) means fed, showered, dressed, teeth brushed, face cleansed, and hair and make-up done.
   
   9am sounds insanely late, I know. But now I work from home and have a baby, it’s harder than it sounds :)
   
   
8. Don’t watch TV or read fiction unless I’m on vacation. 
   
   I’m not “anti” either of those things. In fact, I enjoy both! But I don’t have the discipline to stop. If I’m reading a good book, I’ll sneakily stay up until it’s finished... and then I’m a mess the next day. And don’t get me started on Netflix ;)
   
   
9. I need a date night / time alone with my partner.
   
   Once a week, preferably... but right now, I’ll take once a month :)
   
   
10. In the evenings, assign time to working, then chill out (with specific activities).
    
    Right now I do bits of work, dotted with moments of relaxing. This means the evening flies by, but I feel like I’ve got nothing done!

 
Bonus tip #11: Go away every January. 
 
Starting the year with a trip makes me feel AWESOME! :)
 
I met a friend in New York one year on January 4th, as she was there for work. It was the BEST way for me to start a new year; I felt super inspired for ages afterwards.  
 
And now over to you: What would YOUR rules of life be?
 
What makes your life easier... and what do you know deep down needs to change?  
 
As time goes on, my list will change. (Notice there’s nothing on my list about working out – which I’d like to start doing regularly again.)
 
But for now, it’s keeping me sane and on track.
 
And that’s good enough for me! :)
 
Here’s to rules that work for us.
 
Claire

❤
 
PS – I should note that I don’t do all these things every day, without fail. I’m a work in progress! But when I do, life is that much sweeter :)