Enjoy!
~Jessica
This week, I've been doing an entirely different kind of running -- the kind that involves racing from meeting to meeting, flitting from obligation to obligation, and barely having time to sit still. This morning, I'm at home, because I'm waiting for Sleep Number (yay!) to come deliver my new bed. It's a throwback to just two weeks ago, when EVERY morning was like this. I've got laundry spinning away, the house is (somewhat) clean. Dinner is prepped, gym bag is packed, and it's beautiful morning... and in about an hour, when, hopefully the deliverymen have come and gone, I'll put on my heels, button my jacket, get in my car, and head into the office.I've barely had time to SIT in the past week, let alone run. In fact, I haven't "officially" worked out since Tuesday, although last night's planned workout morphed into my moving around all my furniture and doing a pretty intense cleaning session in preparation for the new bed!
I went out late on Friday night, and wasn't feeling up for my Saturday run. I post-poned until Sunday, but then the day was filled with rain. It was frustrating, because I really wanted to get it done... wanted to "outsmart my job" a little bit and prove to myself that I am capable of maintaining my old athletic schedule while still working 8-5. So, week 1... that didn't really happen. I did manage to make it to Cardi02 on Tuesday, but had to skip on Thursday due to an after-work meeting with my ad agency.
The other part of the equation is food -- and my breakfasts, lunches, and snacks were spot on. But dinners completely fell apart last week.
This week, I'm determined to do better, and so far I have. I managed to put a healthy dinner on my table last night, despite also putting in a full work day. I have tonight's lunch and dinner prepped and ready to go, and my gym bag is in the car. I'll leave work around 5:15 and head to Cardi02 today, where Scary Trainer Liz will kick my ass into shape. Rinse, repeat on Thursday, and on Friday morning, when I meet her for a 7 AM 1:1 training session. Oy.
How do you balance it all?
I'm doing great at a few things -- kicking ass at work, keeping up with laundry and housework, both food and exercise are mediocre, and the one thing I'm sucking at is probably being a girlfriend -- a big sorry to My Man, who has been dealt mood swings and crankiness and major OCD over the past week in a way he probably never expected. ;-)
I'm now a solid week behind on training for the half marathon, close to two weeks if you count the weekday runs that I've missed. Is this still doable? I guess I'll find out on Saturday, when I attempt 8 or 9 miles.
How do YOU balance it all, and still find time to enjoy life? Tips? Advice? Experiences to share?
Off and running,
~Jessica
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5 comments:
I feel your pain lady. I work a 9 to 6:30 day and it's not flexible in the least. So my tips, in no particular order: 1) Figure out realistically how many evenings a week you can actually work out, and only plan on those. I went through a phase when I planned 4 workout nights a week. That didn't happen, I felt guilty, I stopped going, it only got worse. Now I know I can only do 2 worknight workouts, and I just have to be okay with that. 2) Cook ahead on Sunday. I plan my meals and cooking schedule along with my exercise for the week, such that on the nights I'm going to work out, I have a dinner that's already made or that is at least prepped, or I plan to order in and adjust my day accordingly. That way you have a plan to deal with the exhaustion-induced hunger and even if it involves picking up food at least you've planned a healthier choice of take-out ahead of time. I actually have a LIST of solid choices from local take out places so if I'm going to takeout or order in, I know what I should get. 3) Figure out when you're most likely to work out on weekends and go to a class or plan a workout then. You're going to want to relax so it's best to figure out when you're most likely to go to a class or work out - for me it's weekend mornings. 4) Take shortcuts when you can. I buy grilled chicken from Whole Foods almost every week, and use it as an easy protein source to throw in dishes that are fast to put together. Could I save some money doing it myself? Sure. But if it makes the difference between me throwing pasta in a pot to boil and dumping some veggies to blanch with it and tossing it together instead of ordering a pizza, it's worth the $ and even the few extra calories that may come with whatever oil they use to grill it. This is true for prepared veggies, proteins, whatever makes it easier for you to function.
Overall, I think the key is being REALISTIC. It's normal to want to do it all, but it's usually not possible - and then there are feelings of guilt for not doing it all, which spiral and which themselves prompt less healthy self-care like eating out, etc. Be realistic with yourself about what you can and can't manage, and then plan accordingly - it will make things much easier and your efforts will be more successful.
I think you know that I struggle with finding balance and wanting to do it all too. I work 8-5 on most days, add my other 2 jobs of teaching and selling and there are often nights where I don't get home until midnight.
Sunday food prep is key. Having dinners in the freezer or fridge ready to go, leaves more time to get in exercise. Sometimes the treadmill is all I have time for. Sure, I'd love to get back to my 4-5 mile trail days, it's just not realistic. I have a busy life.
I also need down time in front of the TV to refuel. Sure, I could use that time to workout on most nights, but my brain needs time to just chill. TV does that for me.
You are trying to cram everything in and that just creates burn out. I think Work in Progress had some good tips - shortcuts, and being realistic...love that! You will ease into a new routine Jess, it just seems overwhelming because it's new and different.
I used to read your blog before you went underground, and I'm glad that you popped back up in the public sphere. I ran my first half-marathon in March, and there were a couple of weeks that weather or illness (mine or my kids') kept me from the training schedule around the same place you are. My 8 miler was hideous because of missing some workouts! But the good news is that I stuck with the program really well for the final 5 weeks and was rewarded with a GREAT race. I went about 15 min faster than I predicted and felt good the whole way. For that training I just ended up being somewhat selfish. I put my training runs on my calendar and if I needed to grocery shop or do laundry, it just had to happen at a different time. I will say that I did have to sacrifice some of the things I do for myself like read books or see friends because some weeks there just wasn't time to fit it in - the running was my "me time".
You can do it!
Angie
If you can, run in the morning. I can't tell you how many times I gailed to haul my ass out of bed in the morning, saying "I'll run after work" and then this turns into that, and I don't go. That, and Sunday food prep is key. I love being able to pull something out of the freezer for a quick meal.
I'm in 100% agreement with Anneke. Get up earlier in the morning to work out. Right now I'm working out with my trainer at 5am MWF and on TTh I'm at my apartment gym by 5:15ish. If you workout in the morning, there's no unexpected thing that can come up and not make you do it later. I will admit that having the alarm go off at 4:03 (get out of bed at 4:21) is tough, but it is so worth it. In fact, I really should be in bed right now since 4am is going to come quickly.
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