Happy Tuesday lovelies!
How are you? Are you having a busy start to the week like me? Or just a busy life in general? Lately, I feel like I have so many things on my todo list. I scribble down things at work during the day, have a few lists here and there and usually I only break into a couple things.
I got a new appreciation for making and checking things off my todo list after readings Jessica’s post on Sunday. Can I just say I love this gal!? She is awesome and this was such a great post. I ended up making a master todo list yesterday morning, before 6am, and then a todo list for the day.
Like, Jessica, I asked myself a similar question:
What would I be missing out on, if I didn’t do today? What do I need to do to make today fabulous?
A few things on the list include:
- spending time with Jesus
- make master todo list
- start adding to my dream board (much more to come on this!)
- workout
Work. Out.
Even if you are a new reader (Welcome!), you probably know just by my name that I am a fan of working out. I am a personal trainer and a self-proclaimed fitness fanatic…or enthusiast. I workout for a lot of different reasons, but the main reason is because it makes me feel good. It makes me happy.
So, you can imagine that with a busy life, things have to take the back seat. I try to include some kind of workout in my routine everyday. And yes, I do force myself to take rest days…it’s tough sometimes. There are days that I have to tweak the workout, cut out some time, scale back on what I do. There are days when I have to figure how to ‘fit it all in.’
When I’m running short on time, I run through a few questions
How much time do I have to workout? How much time can I commit to working out? What am I willing to move around to accommodate a workout? What type of workout do I want to do?
I either workout in the morning or in the evening. I don’t workout in the middle of the work day. I sweat glisten too much for that.
So, if I workout in the morning, it means waking up earlier to accommodate. Which means getting things ready the night before – i.e. laying out clothes, making sure lunch is ready, thinking through breakfast and workout snacks. This is KEY to getting up for morning workouts – PLAN.
Working out after work is a little easier. I usually go straight after work, so I pack my gym clothes and change before I leave the office (show off the muscles on the way back from the bathroom, of course).
After I have my time of day down, I figure out how much time I actually have to spend working out. Usually, during the week, I try to aim for a 20-30 minute work. So 4 words come to mind.
High Intensity Interval Training.
That means tabata workouts, circuits, quickies, workouts with kettlebells, sprints, burpees, and jump ropes. High intensity metabolic full body workouts. I get a great workout, in a short amount of time.
Yesterday, I did 3-5 minute HIIT style workouts (on the blog soon). All 3 were solid enough to be used on their own. The key for me is full body. Can I work my entire body in that short amount of time? My first circuit was a combo of jump rope and push-ups. Second was 4 different ab exercises and burpees. Third was a kettlebell complex. All full body. All got my heart rate up. All felt great.
Then there are those days when I just want a slow workout. I pick out a yoga video. Or just go one big long walk or a few throughout the day. Taking active rest days – because rest days are super important (remember that Jena!).
But I also have days when I just want to spent 45 minutes to an hour working out. I want to try out new moves. Enjoy a longer run. Lift lots of heavy things. And give myself at least 1 day like that each week. To just get lost in the workout.
How do I fit it all in?
I make it fit. I make sure I am intentional about the the type of workout I do and the time I have in which to do it. I throw away the list one day out of the week and just enjoy the workout. I take active rest days. I make it a priority Heck, I even multitask some days – hello, walking treadmill at work..
But, I also am a firm believer in doing what works for you with fitness. Maybe you are not a fan of kettlebells or HIIT workouts. Maybe you prefer an hour of yoga every day or a long hike. And that is what you make time for each day. AWESOME! Get after it.
Bottom line: move each day. make it something you love to do. don’t always stress about the time. be intentional.
I’m FINALLY linking up with The Fit Pepper and The Fit Switch for their weekly link-up, The Fit Dish. So inspired by these ladies. Be sure to head on over to their blogs and take a look at all the other awesome posts!
– jena.
p.s. How do you fit it all in?
want more burpees for breakfast? find me on facebook. instagram. twitter. bloglovin. and pinterest.
Love your to do list Jena. I like the “Spend time with Jesus” part. Someone recently asked me how I view my relationship with Jesus sompared to other people in my life and made the comment that Jesus just wants us to spend time with Him and build our relationship, it was such an easy way to view praying and studying the bible and attending church
So true, Sarah! So important to spend that time building that relationship.
I am the same way! I make it fit, whether that means some give and take time from certain activities I usually fit in what is most important to me!
Awesome, Hilary! 🙂
I love where you said, “I make it fit.” So do I and when you want it to be your lifestyle..it all comes together 🙂
Agreed, Jodi, agreed!
I love this post Jen! I’ve been making so many lists lately! SO helpful! I love HIIT… About to get to it now.. And don’t worry, they’ll definitely be some Burpees in there!! xo
Woo! Love it! Hope it was a great workout!
I loved this post! Thanks for the shout out, you’re so sweet! And, I am way impressed by your master list; it looks so organized. Mine is UGLY. lol. And, I love how you love working out; the way you described it will make me enjoy working out more in the future. It’s actually shifting my mindset right now about the workout I need to do tonight. Now, I’m excited! Thanks! Love that we’re pals! : )
Yay! So glad to hear, Jessica! Loving that we are pals too 🙂 And that was a nice looking list in my post…because I copied it from all the chicken scratch notes I had written down on other pieces of paper! Hah
That’s so true! If it’s something you enjoy or want bad enough, you make it fit into your schedule!
So great meeting you!!
Thanks, Fawn! Couldn’t agree more 🙂
It is tough to fit it all in! I am a list maker and I write my workouts down at the beginning of the week. Right now it is still rainy in Florida so that is my schedule wrecker! I love to be outside! Looking forward to the dream board idea! Have a great week!
Oh, MB, hopefully you are still getting in some time outside in between rain showers! I’ll keep you posted on the dream board – it’s suppppper small right now 🙂
It seems like just when I feel like I’m fitting it all in something changes and then I’m not. It’s an ever evolving process. And guess what, sometimes I don’t fit it ALL in but the things that are most important to me are never NOT fit in 🙂
I completely agree, Jill. And I know it changes weekly, and sometimes daily for me. But the most important things always fit in for me too 🙂
I love love love HIIT workouts! And I totally dig your point of view on fitness. I agree, move more and find activities that you enjoy. So many people look at physical activity as “I must workout in a gym,” but there are so many other options.. one size doesn’t fit all. Thanks for your post! I am loving this link up.
Thanks, Bri! I always try to tell friends and clients that don’t like working out to find something they do like, that gets their blood flowing and heart pumping. Find a way to make fitness fun! 🙂
i think it’s important to schedule in workouts.. but what hits me the most when i’m not focused is time with the Lord. So thank you for reminding me of that today.. i know we were talking fitness but i got side tracked.. hehe
Heh – I get it, Lindsay. I definitely notice a shift in my day when I get up and get time in with the Lord.