Finding time to workout seems impossible sometimes. But like anything else in your life that’s worthwhile, it’s important to carve out the time to invest in yourself. I think of exercise as two-fold: an investment for today and an investment for tomorrow.
Investment for Today
It’s Monday morning and my body is saying roll back over, hit snooze…I’m not ready. My brain is saying, ok 5 more minutes, but you have to get up. You want to get up. You will be happier if you get up. It’s a constant internal battle. The days my brain wins and I get my ass out of bed, I am happier for multiple reasons.
I’ve told myself, even if I do 30 minutes, that’s something. It could be a quick run outside or just some free weights in my living room while I catch up on last night’s Mad Men. The key is, I have to do something.
Since I’m a planner, I have a habit of planning out potential workouts for the week based upon my schedule for work and things going on socially. For example if I have plans Tue, Wed and Fri night, I know I have to workout in the mornings on those days. I don’t want to chance that I’ll be too tired after I go out, and let’s face it I probably will be. I use my Google Calendar to pencil in my potential workouts:
Monday – Pilates or yoga class after work
Tuesday – Run outside before work
Wednesday – kettle bells before work
Thursday – Spin class at the gym after work
Friday – Run outside before work
Sat / Sun – take one day off.
Even if I don’t strictly stick to this schedule, I’m still attempting to do something each day, typically with one day off.
This is an investment for today because it allows me to start or end each day with a “hell yea!” It allows me to feel better about myself which in turns allows me to typically eat better and more productive on other things. It’s a win-win for that day.
Investment for Tomorrow
My planning isn’t always for the week. I typically have month goals I’m trying to reach, such as a 5K I may be training for. I haven’t run regularly in a while due to a crap knee so I have a new goal to reach. I want to run at a speed that allows me to kick some butt that day, but also be able to run more races in the future.
In addition, since I’m not in my 20s anymore, I want to ensure I’m taking even better care of myself. I see people who have let themselves go – whether you’re in a relationship, too busy to figure out the work/life balance, and/or just don’t care enough. I don’t want to be that person. I want to be someone who always has the energy to go hike a mountain (or some hills), and is excited to run that next 5K. I’m working for my future self…because she will probably be pretty awesome.
Whatever your drive – today, tomorrow, or just that next run, it’s important to invest in yourself.
How do you #radiatedaily ?
