Last week I was emailing back and forth with the newly-married Charbelle about how busy our schedules are. In my email I said something like, "as soon as I have moved, then life will slow down."
She laughed and said that she was pretty sure that once the move is behind me, something else will come along and monopolize my time, whether it's work or training for my half-marathon or a full social calendar.
I agreed and said that I definitely sound like a broken record. "As soon as..." is a recurring phrase that I use.
As soon as the marathon is behind me, I'll have more time.
As soon as the series 7 is behind me, I'll have more time.
As soon as the CFA is behind me, I'll have more time.
As soon as the move is behind me, I'll have more time.
While I do have significantly more free time now that the CFA exam is behind me, I still feel like I am pretty busy. I don't think that is going to change, and I am ok with that. I like having a busy and full life. I'd rather have a calendar that is too full than one that is empty.
No matter how busy I get, I have committed myself to getting 4-5 runs in each week. Since I have quite a post-work commitments, that means I have to get some of my runs in before work.... Which means getting up at 4:30.
Do I like it? No, not really. I groan a bit when the 4:30 alarm goes off. and my pace freaking sucks; I'm about 10-20 seconds/mile slower. I'm slowly learning to accept that and to just appreciate the fact that I am getting the miles in instead of skipping runs.
Once I move downtown, I'll have a 10 minute walk to work instead of a 40 minute commute in the car/bus. So instead of getting up at 4:30, I can get up at 5, which sounds way easier (my usual wake up time is 5:15). So I just have to make it through the next 2 weeks of 4:30 runs. Which I can totally do, since I only end up doing pre-work runs 2-3 times a week.
So yes, life is busy. But life is good. :)
When do you fit in your work-outs? Do you prefer working out in the morning or evening? On week nights, I prefer to run after work. On weekends, I prefer to start my run around 7-8 am.
Um, I do not get up at 4:30 to do anything, much less exercise! You're so dedicated!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I think your schedule will still be full once you move but you'll be in a more central location so maybe it won't seem like so much because you don't have to go as far!
I like kickboxing and s[inning. I try to get to the gym daily but not always possible!
ReplyDeleteI have the same tendency to claim that things will calm down once something is behind me. Really the only thing that is true for is when classes are in session versus when they are not.
ReplyDeleteIdeally, I would run late in the morning after writing for a few hours or teaching a class, but I usually have to make it an early morning run. I've run more in the late afternoons/evenings this past year. It's still not my favorite time to run, but some days you just have to take what you can get.
Depends on the week but I either get my workouts in before work (meaning I get up around 6:30), during the lunch hour, or just after lunch. It's been working out pretty well since I moved and I'm getting in four to five days of runs + weights. It feels good!
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of me... I've been saying the same thing since graduate school about how I'd slow down and be less busy but I'm still not. And I think that's just how I'm built! :)
I think that is true for most people, we always think things will slow down eventually but we find things or situations arise that just replace the former! I even hear from my retired friends and family, that life is full and busy for them! Anyone who gets up at 4:30 to run is totally dedicated!
ReplyDeleteI always feel like day starts at 5 a.m. and any time before that is still night. Good for you for being so dedicated. I like to get my exercise done in the earlier part of the day. Today is a swimming day.
ReplyDeleteI've done this a lot too. As soon as... I'll do this.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm starting to learn that it's up to ME to MAKE time to do things. And my life is always going to be busy. There are lulls and sometimes I have super relaxing weekends where I'm not up to much, but more often than not I have go-go-go, busy weeks and weekends and I'm happy with that!
If I run in the morning I get up at 5:00 AM (well my alarm goes off, I'm not usually UP until 5:15). I TOTALLY prefer getting my workouts done in the mornings and if I don't get it over with I will often put it off!
You are seriously dedicated to get up so early and I commend you for this! I actually prefer getting my runs in before work in the morning, especially in the summer when it gets so hot later in the day. Since I don’t work until 9:30, getting in a run before work only requires me getting up around 7, so it’s not too big of a deal!
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I move, I can adjust my morning runs. hahaha. You did an "as soon as" without even realizing it! =)
ReplyDeleteI prefer to workout in the evenings, but that's a joke post-Gavin. Now? Sometimes I workout in the morning. Sometimes I workout at lunch. And sometimes I workout in the evening.
I just started a 60-day slimdown thingy and I'm committed to getting in the workouts whenever I can. I'm evening considering doubling up during weeks when it's just not possible to fit them in! We'll see if that ever happens. =)
Fitting everything in is so hard! But it sounds like you're doing a great job :)
ReplyDeleteI prefer being active in the evenings, but I prefer doing most things in the evenings so that usually backfires on me ;)
I'm terrible for using the "as soon as..." line. Time to learn that if I want to make time for something it's up to me to do it!
ReplyDeleteYour dedication is amazing.
2 more weeks till you move??!! Awesome! Those weeks are going to fly! I hate getting up in the morning too some days but it is totally worth it to have the afternoons free! Plus having the ultra short commute to work will be great!
ReplyDeleteMorning workouts aren't an option for right now (but hopefully will be soon!) so for me, it's afternoon or evenings.
ReplyDeleteI thought I would be so much less busy once school was done but I feel like I'm just as busy. Since I'm only working part-time, I've taken over cleaning/cooking and it takes up my entire afternoon, between job hunting and, of course, reading blogs. ;) But at least I'm busier doing things that are more fun than homework and writing papers. Somewhat.
Much to Rick's chagrin, I don't make time. Drives him nuts and probably with good reason.
ReplyDeleteHalf past four?! Oh my goodness! When I had a 5.15 star for work(THANK GOODNESS THAT'S NOT THE CASE NOW)I was like a zombie for the first 3 hours. You are a machine!
ReplyDeletei am totally changing from a morning person to a night person. mainly because with a baby, a morning workout isn't happening right now. but i can schedule in walks (eventually runs) when my husband is home or i can take the baby for a walk during the day (if she cooperates). but i also have started randomly showering at night too, so that helps working out at night because after i work out i must shower.
ReplyDeleteRunning/exercising @ 4:30 sucks. It's difficult to get that initial "jolt"...but I always keep in mind how good I"ll feel when I'm done.
ReplyDeleteRight now you HAVE to start running around 4:30-5 am if you don't want to get seriously dehydrated. It's supposed to be 110 today. Gross.
It will be SO nice once you move!! Just a few weeks :)
In the summer I workout a lot, and always in the morning. The rest of the year I work out sporadically, and always in the evening.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like morning workouts on the weekends (and then breakfast!) and after work runs on weekdays. Except it is hard to get motivated after work!
ReplyDeleteYou are probably always going to be busy, but don't you find you get a lot more done when you are busy sometimes!? If I have TOO MUCH free time, I sometimes waste it more.