Make it a priority

Your calendar is one of the best fitness tools you have. It takes time to train and you need to manage where your time goes. Recording all of your activities in an organizational planner on a weekly basis is a great way to identify available pockets of time that can be best used to train.

• Work/School/Kids - fixed time you have no control over are first priority entries on your calendar.
• Sleep - aim for a regular sleep pattern such as going to bed early and waking up early. i.e. Turning off that 8 pm prime time TV gives you back your AM prime time training.
• Shower/Dress/Pack - time yourself how long it takes you to get ready including what your wearing for work and what your wearing to train and block the appropriate time on your calendar. Picking out clothes, gear and limiting distractions helps you be more efficient.
• Train - don’t procrastinate, this is the time you set aside now execute. Just prior to the time you plan to run, don’t let the phone grab your attention. Don’t let that sacred training time you set aside slip away. And don’t let weather stop you in your tracks. By dressing appropriately, running in the rain or cold can be an exhilarating experience. Also, protect your highest quality workouts to get those in more consistently but account for the fact that life happens and workouts missed should be the easy days i.e. bare minimum I’m getting in a long run every week consistently.
• Variable task - shopping & laundry can be inserted into your calendar last after your scheduled training. Make the necessary arrangements in advance (childcare, cooking dinner, etc.) to insure that your workout gets done. If you are unable to run as planned due to an unforeseen circumstance, resort to “Plan B” such as getting on a bike trainer at home. Get organized with grocery shopping & laundry so during the week its easy to execute and you don’t have to ask what to wear or what to eat.
• Just Say “No” – Depending upon the time you have available to train, there may be occasions when you have to politely decline a social invitation to fit in your training. Don’t confuse this with being compulsive but rather, invoking self-discipline as a means to accomplish an important goal. Share your goal with your family and friends and they will be less likely to try to talk you out of it ad hoc.