What commitments are not negotiable?

If you're being pulled in a lot of directions with regard to how you spend your time -- and who isn't -- then you need to set boundaries to protect the activities that are most important to you.

Last week I was invited to attend a networking breakfast. And there were going to be some people there that might be very good connections for me. But Monday through Thursday I work out from 5:45 to 6:45 a.m. -- and that's not negotiable.

It wasn't always like that. Some years ago exercise was one of those things that I fit in when I could, which means I rarely fit it in. I eventually figured out that I feel better and I work better when I'm in decent shape, so now I have an exercise plan and that time is not negotiable.

It does make sense to pick a time that's likely to work for you based on the activity. I'm a morning person so that hour of the day is good for me. In addition, there are very few things that vie for that time slot. But like that networking event, things do come up. The event started at 7:30 a.m. which made it impossible for "high-maintenance me" to get there in time.

So what in your life should be non-negotiable?

• Time with your significant other or with family?
• An hour a day to make sales calls?
• Using time in the car to collect your thoughts instead of talk on the phone?
• Time set aside to pursue a hobby?
• A few hours a week to yourself?

Once you've decided what's non-negotiable you've just eliminated a decision you have to make. For that period of time you don't have to decide what you're going to do with yourself. The decision has already been made.