It's time, loyal reader, that I put a question to you. How do you achieve that perfect work-life balance? It's something I have struggled with since moving to Pennsylvania, and I don't know how people find the time to fit everything in. We don't even have kids, and by the time I get home, I wonder how we're ever going to be able to run around to things like baseball practice or music lessons.
I ask this because it has been tough to motivate myself to go to the gym. By the time I get home some nights, it seems too late to go, or I don't have the energy to go.
I get up in the morning at 6am. I peter around for an hour or so before getting ready for work and leaving between 730am and 8am. My 22 mile commute to work can take from 45 minutes to 2 hours on the worst days. I work until 5 most nights, but sometimes, I am required to stay late. The 22 mile commute home doesn't necessarily take as long, but it has been known to take up to an hour (worse if there is snow). Sometime, Jess and I meet for dinner after work, or go to dinner when we get home between 6-7pm. This means I may not get home until 7pm to 9pm depending on the evening's activities.
Many nights I am until 1130pm just to catch up on some TV shows and other things around the house. So I am already shorting myself on sleep. I can get up any earlier and go to the gym. I cant rely on myself to go to the gym after work every night. I am just kind of confused right now.
It was much easier back in the day, when all I had was work, and party time late nights... all my friends were at the gym. I always had a workout buddy, and I always had people to socialize with, no matter when I went in. Maybe I can talk Easton into buying the Brandywine YMCA... but I digress.
So I'm putting the question to you:
How do you achieve your work-life balance, and how do you fit the things for yourself, like going to the gym and staying active, into that work-life balance?
Put your answer in the comments of the blog entry, and maybe it will better help me to understand what I need to get my shit in order.
I sound kind of whiny too, don't I? Please drop your pithy remarks in there too. I need the reality check.
On a completely unrelated note, remember when Good Charlotte were good before they became stars, but after the whole rocking out for Christ thing? Those 3 months were magical for Benji and Joel.
7 comments:
OMG, I would like to know the answer to that too. I know how you feel. I cannot possibly fit in everything, and I get to the point where I feel so overwelmed, that I just don't care. On your day off, its like "finally" and after your through catching up on house dutys, visiting parents, grocery shopping. You feel like giving up again. Some nights I come home from work and go straight to bed. I wish you all the luck -Connie
The Brandywine YMCA? When life was easier (no kids) for me, I used to go 3 days a week at 530am to play pickup hoops. Now, not so much.
The best exercise solution for me has been to catch up on my TV while on the elliptical machine or stationary bike. You have to multi-task to fit everything in. Dedicated gym time is impossible unless your employer has a fitness center.
I think the word you are missing is priority. You have to make yourself and your health a priority and if that means not going out to eat or coming home late or doing somehting else then that is what it is. Until you commit to put excerise into your life, there will be a million reasons not to fit it into your day.
Procrastination is easy, I know I majored in it.
From Mindy: This one is a hard one for me too. I have yet to become "addicted" to exercise as I hear others are. I know I feel better afterwards, but it's the getting there that's difficult. There was a time when I would work out twice/day - with videos and home equipment in the mornings and at the gym walking/running at night. At least if I missed one, I could still pretty much guarantee I'd get one workout done at some point during the day. It's still hard to get up early, though, and at times it's easy to talk myself out of going at night. I am doing better - I know I have to at my age (40) - I have to make it a priority for a lot of reasons. As you get older, it's harder to keep weight off and easier to gain - not to mention all the other things we have to deal with - heart issues, cancer, women stuff like menopause, etc - not that I've started that yet nor do I have heart issues or cancer, but menopause is coming down the road and I have the close history of both cancer and heart issues. It's still a fight with myself at times to get a workout done when I'd rather crash on the couch, tho - but I know it's something I have to do.
Hey, Dan... just checking out your blog. I think it's awesome you are making a commitment to get healthy. It's a hard thing to do. I don't have much advice, except that I get so much more done now that I don't have tv. I have a tv set, so I can watch movies and stuff, but I get no channels, so there's no mindless channel surfing to waste time. I know not having a tv is a big deal, but a lot of shows are online now, so if there's one that you MUST see, you can probably still watch it (for me, it's Lost, oh yeah.)
Anyway, good luck!
I'm with Jessica. What are the priorities in your life. I get up at 5:30-6 3 times a week, don't even turn the lights on, get into my gym gear and drive to the gym. I'm in and out, showered and off to work by 8. This leaves my evenings for my family. Also, I work in an office where I'm free to come and go as I please. The other 2 days of the week I get to the office at 6:30 or 7, work through lunch, and I leave at about 4 everyday.
One thing I've sacrificed in my life is a little money, but the time I have with my wife and daughter are worth far more than a new flat screen, or some other item I really don't need.
And Dan has a good point, multi-task. Nothing helps a workout go by faster than watching a game while doing cardio. 30-40 min pass without even realizing it.
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