I’ve not stopped banging on about this book to everyone since I got it.
When I first heard about Sarah Knight’s ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Note Giving a F**k’* (yes, it’s kind of spoofing ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying’ book…respectfully might I add!), I hopped onto Amazon and ordered a copy straight away.
I’ve never heard a book title I needed quite so much.
First things first, this book isn’t encouraging you to stop caring about life or give zero f**ks; quite the opposite. It ‘teaches’ you to stop giving f**ks to unnecessary things so that you can give more f**ks (aka. care more) about the important things in your life. Basically, prioritising your f**ks.
Here are just a few of the things I’ve taken away from this book:
- Stop wasting f**ks and worrying about things that I can’t control, because they’re out of my hands. This includes the weather, and also peoples’ opinions – they will think what they like and I can’t change that.
- Start adopting ‘personal policies’ (eg. “I have a personal policy that I don’t go to watch Amateur Dramatics”). These are great for getting out of things and hard for people to get offended by because they’re not personal – AMAZING.
- Aim to be respected, rather than just ‘liked’. This means setting boundaries and handling the perfect balance of honesty and politeness, which will take me a while to master…
I’ve had a good long think about all the things I want to stop feeling pressured to give a f**k about, and what I want to give more f**ks about instead, so I thought I’d share 10 with you, along with what I’ll be giving my f**ks to instead:
1. Poldark/Period Dramas >> Sci-Fi Thrillers
YES I SAID IT. I don’t give a f**k about Poldark. And before you question whether I have any kind of loyalty or respect for Cornwall whatsoever, let me stop you there. Because I don’t give a f**k.
I will instead be caring about epic sci-fi/dystopian thrillers and maybe some documentaries too.
2. Wearing colours >> Defining a minimal, quality style
I’ve decided that colours just aren’t for me, and any future comments of “you look like you’re going to a funeral” or “you need more colour in your life” will be met with disregard.
My wardrobe is already 99% black white and grey, so I don’t need to change much. But I will just be focusing on quality purchases that will last instead of fast fashion of things I probably don’t like that much anyway.
3. Posting Christmas cards >> Buying awesome presents
Unless you keep every card you were ever given (surprisingly I know at least 2 people who do this… so well done to them?), I just feel like Christmas cards are a bit of a waste.
I mean, nice sentimental/fancy ones for special people are lovely, but I just don’t feel like posting a 50 pack of Poundland’s finest to everyone in my address book is a good use of my time or money…
4. Raw feeding my dog >> Doing anything else with my dog
If you can be bothered with the effort and grossness of raw feeding your dog because you can see a tangible benefit, then that’s cool – no judgement. It’s just 100% not for me or my values.
I pay out for good quality food, treats, insurance and toys for Pepper, as well as the ‘plushest’ day care, and I spend hours a day exercising and training her, so I’m #NotSorry one bit.
5. Pantomines >> Just no.
Not pantomimes, never pantomimes.
Enough said.
6. Green tea >> Tea that I actually like
It can’t just be me that feels pressured from Instagram and fit-and-healthy-and-or-vegan bloggers/YouTubers to love green tea with all my body parts. I’M MISSING OUT ON SO MANY HEALTH BENEFITS! I’m basically just killing myself by not drinking it, right?
Wrong; there are plenty of other foods and drinks that are good for me and don’t taste like ass. So I won’t be giving a f**k anymore.
7. Polaroid cameras >> Digital/mirrorless cameras
Ooh but those little paper squares look so darn cute and sure, it would save me getting my digital copies printed out…
NO. Anna, you have absolutely no need for a polaroid camera, so let’s just stick with what we know and currently love instead.
8. Podcasts >> Books/Blogs
I feel like I should be someone who freaking loves podcasts. But I don’t, because I can’t take anything in by listening – I am not an aural learner at all; I’m 110% visual, and therefore podcasts/audiobooks/webinars with just someone sat talking do NOT work for me.
Instead of feeling pressured to check out the latest awesome business podcast, I’m going to stick to enjoying books and blogs.
9. Making pasta from scratch >> …Just eating pasta
It’s not worth it folks, why would you put yourself through this?
10. Smile lines/wrinkles >> Laughing and smiling more
I’m only 22, but I’ve got my eye on a couple of sneaky premature lines on my face thanks to crappy skin genetics. But do I actually care? Well… not really, because in the end it will probably make me look smilier and wise, and like I have lived.
So now, instead of buying £146 eye creams, I shall proceed to shout “No, Olay, I do NOT give a f**k!” at the TV and then laugh from the joy of rebelling the consumerism.
This book is hilarious, and 100% appeals to my sarcastic sense of humour. I’ve actually bought and just started reading Sarah Knight’s sequel book ‘Get Your Sh*t Together’ too and it’s just as perfect!
What could you give less f**ks about in 2017?
*All links to these books are affiliate links, because I freaking loved it and it would be silly not to!
Never miss a post! Follow on Bloglovin:
Follow
I enjoyed this post, Anna! And perhaps it’s a book I might read (and fyi, I just wrote and deleted “a book I SHOULD read: and swapped it for “a book I MIGHT read”, because ‘should’s’ are the antithesis to what you’re saying, really, aren’t they?!). Given me food for thought, that’s for sure!
Flora
http://www.theeverchanginghome.com
Haha glad you enjoyed it! It’s definitely worth reading – totally not your normal self help book :P xx
I love you, and the fewer fucks you are now giving! Yay to no fucks!
Love you too, and for all the fucks you have inspired me not to give :D xx
I so nearly commented exactly the same thing! Haha nawww you guyssss xxx
<3 <3 <3
YES! I so want to read this book, it sounds amazing! Even if I’m not actually that good at working out what to not give a fuck about! ;) Where were the Kardashians on this list huh?! Alice xxxx
http://www.woodenwindowsills.co.uk
Haha to be fair, one of the main things I found from this book was just how many things I WANT to give a f**k about lol. But hopefully by caring less about green tea and, yes, the Kardashians, I will be able to care more about those things :)
Such a good read, you’ll be laughing out loud :D xx
It’s basically retelling the old ‘prayer’ (I think) below, but presenting it in a way that connects with the modern world and makes it understandable and achievable. Sounds like a good read that many of us would benefit from.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
However, I’m going to take issue with your pantomime policy. You are wrong (and my shield of indignation protects me from your anti-f**ks). All I’m going to say is that you should go to the panto at Greenwich Theatre (www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk) and you will never want to go to another panto ever again. It’s that good. No big names, no D-list celebs, just very funny traditional panto. Oh yes it is!
You’re right about green tea. It sucks.
I’m not religious at all but that prayer is great – you’re right, it’s exactly that but taken in a modern, more explicit way haha!
I literally can’t think of anything worse than pantomime humour; I developed my dislike from being IN several as a teenager when I was part of an amateur dramatics group, and realising that it’s 100% not for me haha!
Is it wrong that i liked all the F***s in this blog post?! Ah, who gives a… ;)
Haha – it’s not wrong at all – that’s the beauty of it! Everyone prioritises their f**ks differently, but you shouldn’t give a f**k about that anyway – exactly! :P
This book sounds perfect to me! I really need to stop fussing about things I’m not even concerned about… x
Jessica — NinetyCo
It’s funny isn’t it, how we feel pressured to care about silly things? When I talked to my boyfriend about it he couldn’t comprehend at all haha! He was like ‘why would I feel pressured to care about something I don’t actually care about? I don’t get it.’
I don’t know if it’s more of a female thing, or if he’s just an expert at giving no f**ks! Xx