Break Your Own Rules to Do Your Best Work

Some of the best work you’ve ever done—the kind that actually made you feel proud, alive, maybe even a little scared—probably didn’t follow all the “right” rules.

You skipped the formal proposal and sent that bold email. You didn’t wait for permission and launched anyway. You ignored what “success” should look like and chose what felt like you. Here’s the secret: your best work breaks norms.
Not recklessly. Not to be edgy for the sake of it. But because doing work that matters means rewriting the rules that don’t.

The Trap of Playing by the Book

From school to corporate jobs, we’ve been trained to follow the playbook. Color inside the lines. Meet expectations. Keep the peace.

But when you’re building a life or a career that actually excites you—not just pays the bills—those same rules start to feel like handcuffs. Take Sarah, a designer who always submitted “safe” client work—clean, polished, no surprises. She checked every box. But she was bored out of her mind. One day, she broke her own internal rule of “always give the client what they ask for.” She submitted an extra version—bolder, weird, way more her. That’s the one that landed on a billboard.

Why? Because it had a heartbeat. And that doesn’t come from playing it safe.

Little Rebellions = Big Shifts

You don’t need to burn your whole life down to break free. Start with a little rebellion. A “little rebellion” is a small, intentional act of rule-breaking that reminds you: you’re in charge of how you work and live.

Examples?

• Declining a meeting with no guilt—and using the hour to write.
• Turning off your camera during Zoom and actually stretching while you listen.
• Publishing a blog post that’s a little rough, but 100% real.
• Telling your boss you’re going for a walk instead of pretending to work through burnout.

These aren’t acts of laziness. They’re acts of alignment. You’re choosing to live and work in a way that actually fits you, not the mold. If you’re thinking, “But I have to follow the rules,” here’s a reframe: What if you started thinking like a coach, instead of a cop?

Cops enforce. Coaches encourage.
Cops punish missteps. Coaches see them as growth.
Cops follow scripts. Coaches adapt to the moment.

Thinking like a coach means asking:

• “What rule am I blindly following right now?”
• “What feels off, even if it’s ‘correct’?”
• “What would I tell a friend in this situation?”

It’s an internal shift—from control to curiosity.

Tool: Create Your “Rules I Break” Manifesto

Here’s a simple exercise that could seriously change your week.

Take a piece of paper. At the top, write:
Rules I Break (On Purpose)

Then list 5-7 “rules” you’re done pretending to follow. Not legal or ethical rules—don’t go wild. But the silent, soul-sapping ones. Like:

• “Always say yes to new work.”
• “Never share something unless it’s perfect.”
• “Keep your goals private until they’re successful.”
• “Work should always feel hard.”

For each one, write the alternative belief you choose. For example:

❌ Rule: Never share unless it’s perfect
✅ Rebellion: I share messy work because it helps people and builds momentum.

Stick this list on your fridge, your desktop, or your journal. Look at it when you feel yourself shrinking.

But… What Will People Think?

Let me stop you right there.

The moment you start rewriting your own rules, fear shows up in a suit and tie:
“What will your boss think?”
“What if they laugh?”
“What if you fail?”

Here’s the truth: they might. But if you wait for universal approval, you’ll be waiting forever. And the cost? Your creative voice, your joy, your aliveness. Break a rule. Then see what happens. You might be surprised who thanks you for going first.

Your Challenge: Write & Break One Rule This Week

You don’t need a five-year plan. You just need one micro move.

So here’s your challenge:

👉 This week, write down one rule you’re tired of following—and break it once, on purpose.

Maybe it’s “I must always reply to emails within 10 minutes.” Maybe it’s “My career path must look impressive on LinkedIn.” Maybe it’s “I can’t rest until everything’s done.”

Pick one. Break it gently. Then notice how you feel.

That’s where your next chapter begins.

TL;DR: Your best work probably won’t follow all the rules. It’ll come when you break the ones that never served you in the first place. Think like a coach. Start a little rebellion. And write your own damn manifesto.

Writing after work, with lukewarm coffee. Like what you read? Buy me a coffee ☕