Building My BATNA: A Plan B for Life

I came across this concept this week called BATNA—Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement.

It’s the kind of thing that sounds ridiculously corporate, right?

Like something you’d learn in an MBA class while someone clicks through a PowerPoint.

But honestly?

It’s genius.

For me, I see having a BATNA as your Plan B, your safety net. It’s the thing that gives you the power to walk away when something isn’t working.

Jobs, relationships, Friday night plans. It applies to everything. And I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’ve spent so much of my time obsessing over my Plan A. Making sure my job, my relationships, and my everything are “perfect.”

But what about my Plan B?

What happens when the picture-perfect Plan A cracks a little? What do I have to fall back on?

The more I think about it, the more I realise BATNA isn’t just about negotiating. It’s a way of looking at life.

It’s about building something solid for yourself so you can make decisions from a place of power, not fear.

It’s having the confidence to walk away from what doesn’t serve you because you’ve poured so much into yourself that you’ll be fine.

And what I know is that I’ve been really bad at that. If I’m honest, I’m the last thing on my own list. I put my work, my friends, my to-do list ahead of myself every single time. Call it people-pleasing, call it being an empath, call it whatever you like. It’s just how I’ve been wired.

But I think it’s time for a rewiring.

Because if I want a solid BATNA, I need to start prioritising myself.

Like properly prioritising myself.

Like rediscovering joy in the everyday things.

Last year, I barely cooked. Cooking used to be my thing, my happy place, the thing I did when I wanted to create something tangible. But somewhere along the way, I stopped....

Looking back, that feels like a pretty big sign that I was on autopilot. So this year, I’m going to bring it back.

Because the way I understand it is that sometimes building a BATNA isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about the small things that make you feel more like you.

If I can build a life where I’m prioritising my joy, my creativity, and the people who make me feel alive, maybe that’s who I am outside of work.

Maybe that’s the version of me I’ve been searching for.

So, this year, I want to lean into my BATNA. Not just as a negotiation tactic but as a way of life.

Creating space for myself, knowing that when the time comes to make a decision, whether it’s about a job, a relationship, or even a Friday night plan, I can choose what’s best for me.

Because having a solid BATNA isn’t just about confidence.

It’s about freedom.