Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Where is Your Time Going?


There are so many complaints about lack of time to exercise and with technology today like; cell phones, email, and social networking sites it's no wonder. During this second challenge I have heard more complaints about lack of time. How many of you spend time texting and better yet how many of you spend an hour or better on the computer logged into your email, Facebook and MySpace? If the computer isn't eating up your time you need to evaluate your situation and find out what is causing you to waste time.


If you have an hour to surf the net then why can't you find an hour to take care of yourself? Figure out what is more important, your health or your social statues on the Internet. Are you really miserable with your weight and do you want to do something about it, or are you just looking for something to whine about? Do you really lack time or do you just lack the discipline to manage your time efficiently?


There are 24 hours in a day and I think GOD did a good job with the amount of time he allocated for a day. You must decided what is more important. Are you happy with yourself? Do you look in the mirror and complain about what you see because you are 20, 30, 40 plus pounds overweight? Do you enjoy shopping for clothes right now or do you avoid the stores at all cost? It's time to focus on the task at hand and that is sit down and write out a schedule. Yes, you can still pencil in time to play on the computer but you need to mark in pen the times you will workout. You need to acknowledge how much time you are wasting each and every day on the computer. How much time are you wasting when you are sitting in a waiting room at the doctors office or waiting in line to pick up your children from school. You are wasting time that you could be using to make yourself a healthier person.


Stop complaining about lack of time, responsibilities, and kids. When the real reason you are not exercising is because you've found another excuse.


I am challenging you to let the mouse go. Put down the cell phone and get your butt in gear. You have one week to finish up this challenge and you need to make it count. Can you do it? Yes, I know you can because I have seen the changes you have made. If you are currently working out but you are not feeling like you are getting a good workout then it's time to step it up, add more weights, add more time and most of all put in 110%.


Here are some tips to manage your time more effectively.


Plan Ahead; Make a schedule and stick to it as best you can. Prepare dinners on Sunday for the following week. Prepare your lunches and snacks ahead of time so all you need to do is grab them from the refrigerator and go.


Don't Waste Waiting Time; If you are on hold or waiting in a doctors office, make use of your time. Write out a grocery list, make out a weekly menu, go through your calendar and plan your workouts for the next week and complete other small tasks.


Stock Up; Buy extras of items like postage stamps, non perishable food items, greeting cards, and paper products. You can avoid several trips to the store or to the post office.


Have a System; Store all of the kids backpacks, lunch boxes, and coats in a central location instead of all over the house. Use post-it-notes on the bathroom mirrors to remind yourself and your children of schedules or items you might need to take to work or school. Post a dry erase board and a dry erase calendar by the door or in a location you will see it daily. Post schedules and write reminders so everyone in the house knows what is going on for the week.


Multi-Task; When at all possible schedule all appointments on one day and schedule appointments for first thing in the morning or directly after lunch. When giving your children a bath sit in the floor and grade homework, sign any necessary paperwork for school, write out bills, and balance your check book. If you don't want to do that groom yourself by taking nail polish off as you are waiting, brush your teeth, wash your face, and do a mask. There are several things you can do while your keeping an eye on your children.


Don't be a Perfectionist!


Learn to Say No; This is by far I think the most important. As a former co-dependent I understand what it is like to always want to take care of everyone and make sure their needs are all met and forget my own. I used to be a co-dependent until I realized noone was taking care of me and of course with a little help from the book Co-Dependent No More. If you can't say no then say not now.


You can't manage time and you can't make a clock stand still but you can manage yourself. Try some of these tips and hopefully you will free up 20-60 minutes in order to take care of you.








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