I talk a lot about health and wellness both on my blog and podcast, and one thing I’ve been trying out lately is having a no-commitment day once a week. This is one day that I can dedicate to myself by not agreeing to attend that event, go to an appointment, host something, be somewhere, or do anything. It might seem selfish at first, but it’s incredibly liberating to have one day that you can dedicate to yourself and whatever you feel like doing that day. Whether you decide to lay on the couch and read a book all day, go for a walk, take a bath, or just lay low, you’d be surprised at how nice it is to wake up in the morning with zero plans!
If you’re like me and have a jam-packed schedule most days of the week, then I highly recommend the no-commitment day ritual. We already commit to doing so much throughout the week, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask for one day off, free of plans. How many times do we overcommit to doing things we don’t actually want to do? Instead of saying yes to everything, put yourself first by saying no to a completely booked schedule that gives you no time to rest. Plus, nobody likes to be the one who cancels last minute or decides they just don’t want to go to brunch that day. This new self-care ritual frees you of guilt, giving you the time you need to recharge.
Having a no-commitment day doesn’t mean you have to be a bum and stay home all day. It actually gives you the freedom to make last-minute plans (if you want) to try a new restaurant, go for a hike, or do anything you feel like doing in the moment. Sometimes, I like to catch up with an old friend or call a family member since I actually have the time to talk. I’ll often go for a long walk or try a new recipe. I find myself having so much more energy when I can get re-inspired and refueled on my no-commitment days.
If you have problems saying no, I wrote a post on why saying no is an act of self-care. To sum it up, saying no allows you to put yourself, your mental health and your energetic bandwidth first. Think of it this way: saying no to others says yes to yourself. Setting boundaries, even with ourselves, helps us prioritize what’s really important: our mental, physical and emotional health. Plus, if you’re too busy making plans, then that leaves you no time to self-reflect and remember what you truly want out of life.
So, instead of committing to others and what they want us to be doing, let’s commit to ourselves. I’d love to know how you’ll choose to spend your time on your no-commitment days!
