“You should be eating ________ micronutrient”
“You shouldn’t eat after 6 pm”
“You should have $300,000 saved by the time you’re 40, or you’ll never retire”
“You should get a flashy watch now that you received that raise”
Don’t listen to any of it!
Have you ever had someone tell you what you should want and second guess yourself because of it? Have you ever clicked on an article telling you how much money you should have saved by a certain age or what kind of workout you should be doing and judging yourself based on what you read? I call this getting should on. Stop it!
Your goals, values, and priorities are your own, and you don’t have to justify them to anyone else. You could have a lot less saved than those articles tell you but still be on track for your preferred future lifestyle. You might not care about cars, watches, coffee, or any of the other items they say you should want. That’s okay. If you do care and want those things for your life, that’s okay, too.
How to avoid the should-ing:
Make sure you know your priorities, values, and goals to spend your time and money on those things rather than items not on those lists. Most people hate budgeting and dieting, but they are only difficult if you cut out the things you care about. If you know yourself well enough not to spend money or time on the things you don’t prioritize, sticking to your budget and diet become far more manageable.
I have found that I don’t love chocolate. When dessert comes out, and it’s chocolate cake, I know I don’t need to take a bite. If a coconut crème pie comes out, I know I’m going to have to make room in my calorie count for the day!
Once you know your goals, values, and priorities, no one will be able to should on you. You will be “unshouldable.”
