Sometimes it’s hard to juggle all the things life throws our way; work, school, relationships, family, friends, extracurricular commitments, volunteering, eating well, exercise, training for an event, and SLEEP! It can be overwhelming and frustrating.
I’ve been feeling a bit this way lately and it sure puts a damper on my mood. Just as my family and friends predicted, working a full-time job, trying to open a personal training studio and training for a triathlon simultaneously has been an ENORMOUS challenge. Lately, it seems that there’s just not enough hours in the day to get the items on my “To Do” list done. And the list just keeps growing! If I feel on top of things in one area, it is almost always at the expense of something else. So, when I examine the greater picture I’m almost always disappointed with myself and what I didn’t get done. This is a recipe for a downward spiral disaster.
Today, I decided that I’d had enough feeling badly for myself and that, come hell or high water, I was going to pull myself OUT of this mental funk I’d gotten into. I reminded myself of The 4 P’s and tried to put them into action. Taking a moment to think about The 4 P’s has helped me in times of high stress before, and this morning it didn’t fail! I thought I’d share:
The 4 P’s
Prepare: This is a huge theme in my life. Preparing food for the week, packing it in Tupperware ahead of time and having it set to go is something that saves me 20-30 minutes a day. Preparing my work/gym/overnight bag(s) the night before also helps me too. I often need to bring several changes of clothes and need outfits for biking, running, swim, etc so packing it all the night before decreases my chances of forgetting something!
Plan: This goes hand in hand with preparation. Having a plan or structure to each day/week/month can help give an idea of how best to maximize time. When I open my planner and see each client, workout, appointment, social engagement, etc blocked off, it helps me to see the “holes” and where I could fit things in. “Seeing” a random half hour block between two clients reminds me that I can use that time for emails, blogging, or making sure to eat lunch!
Practice: Something I’ve learned lately is that it takes a LOT of practice to get used to a new schedule, setup or habit. Juggling a full-time job, opening my Lucky13Fitness studio & training for my triathlon requires exquisite time management and self-discipline. I haven’t been perfect but am learning that with time and practice, I’m getting better at prioritizing what’s most important and what can wait until the next day or week.
*This last one has been super important to me the past few days*
Patience: They say patience is a virtue, and I’m starting to realize that statement is true!!! Even after all the preparation, planning and practice in the world, sometimes things don’t go EXACTLY as I’d like. I have to adjust to fit unexpected bumps in the road. I’ve had to remind myself a LOT lately that this is part of triathlon training, part of opening a new business, and part of life. There’s always the X-factor of the unexpected and unplanned and I can’t let it throw off my whole groove. I’m practicing my patience by reminding myself that my schedule will change soon and that I’ll have more time for the things I need to accomplish. Until then, I just gotta do the best I can with the time I’m given!
I hope The 4 P’s help you get through a stressful moment! Life isn’t perfect, and as they say: Take It One Day At A Time!
I’ve been feeling a bit this way lately and it sure puts a damper on my mood. Just as my family and friends predicted, working a full-time job, trying to open a personal training studio and training for a triathlon simultaneously has been an ENORMOUS challenge. Lately, it seems that there’s just not enough hours in the day to get the items on my “To Do” list done. And the list just keeps growing! If I feel on top of things in one area, it is almost always at the expense of something else. So, when I examine the greater picture I’m almost always disappointed with myself and what I didn’t get done. This is a recipe for a downward spiral disaster.
Today, I decided that I’d had enough feeling badly for myself and that, come hell or high water, I was going to pull myself OUT of this mental funk I’d gotten into. I reminded myself of The 4 P’s and tried to put them into action. Taking a moment to think about The 4 P’s has helped me in times of high stress before, and this morning it didn’t fail! I thought I’d share:
The 4 P’s
Prepare: This is a huge theme in my life. Preparing food for the week, packing it in Tupperware ahead of time and having it set to go is something that saves me 20-30 minutes a day. Preparing my work/gym/overnight bag(s) the night before also helps me too. I often need to bring several changes of clothes and need outfits for biking, running, swim, etc so packing it all the night before decreases my chances of forgetting something!
Plan: This goes hand in hand with preparation. Having a plan or structure to each day/week/month can help give an idea of how best to maximize time. When I open my planner and see each client, workout, appointment, social engagement, etc blocked off, it helps me to see the “holes” and where I could fit things in. “Seeing” a random half hour block between two clients reminds me that I can use that time for emails, blogging, or making sure to eat lunch!
Practice: Something I’ve learned lately is that it takes a LOT of practice to get used to a new schedule, setup or habit. Juggling a full-time job, opening my Lucky13Fitness studio & training for my triathlon requires exquisite time management and self-discipline. I haven’t been perfect but am learning that with time and practice, I’m getting better at prioritizing what’s most important and what can wait until the next day or week.
*This last one has been super important to me the past few days*
Patience: They say patience is a virtue, and I’m starting to realize that statement is true!!! Even after all the preparation, planning and practice in the world, sometimes things don’t go EXACTLY as I’d like. I have to adjust to fit unexpected bumps in the road. I’ve had to remind myself a LOT lately that this is part of triathlon training, part of opening a new business, and part of life. There’s always the X-factor of the unexpected and unplanned and I can’t let it throw off my whole groove. I’m practicing my patience by reminding myself that my schedule will change soon and that I’ll have more time for the things I need to accomplish. Until then, I just gotta do the best I can with the time I’m given!
I hope The 4 P’s help you get through a stressful moment! Life isn’t perfect, and as they say: Take It One Day At A Time!
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