Make Time for Your Fit Life
Many of us excel at giving our energy, support, and time to our family, friends, and colleagues, but are terrible at devoting that same energy and support to our own goals and making time for ourselves. The thing is, we’ll actually have more to give to others when we take better care of ourselves.
Here are eight ways you can start taking ownership of your schedule, so you can devote more time to living your best fit and healthy life:
Plan ahead: When setting your fit-life goals, also set action plans that will help you meet those goals. Determine what you’ll need to each week and each day and then weave those actions into your daily routine.
Schedule it: Make exercise and eating healthier meals a part of your schedule. Block time on your calendar for workouts and cooking if that’s what you need to do. Sure, plans may change, but you’re more likely to do something that you’ve planned on versus squeezing it into your day “if there’s time.” (Is there ever…?)
Be prepared: Add habits that make it easier to live your ideal fit and healthy lifestyle. For example, put your workout gear next to your bed at night so you can get dressed to exercise in the morning without having to think about it. Or perhaps carve out Sunday afternoons to spend time preparing some make-ahead meals for the week. Or each morning set the fruit you plan to eat that day on the counter in easy reach.
Involve others: Even if your loved ones or friends don’t share your goals, they likely want to share your time. So, consider going for walks together or cooking together as ways to spending quality time with the people you’re close to while working toward your fit-life goals.
Get your zzzzzs: You’ll have more energy to devote to exercise, cooking healthy meals, and keeping a positive growth mindset when you’re well-rested.
Choose “to-don’ts”: Just as important as what you’ll do is what you won’t do. If, for instance, you often find yourself saying, “I’ll exercise later, after I do X,” you may need to put procrastination on your “to-don’ts” list. Or maybe a “to-don’t” is shopping for groceries when you’re hungry because you’ll waste time at the store buying things you don’t actually need. Or if you’re the one doing all the chores and errands, it may be time to select one or two for your “to-don’t” list and delegate them.
Set boundaries: Do you really need to host all the family events? Or make all the appointments, plans, and reservations? Is it actually imperative that you work through lunch to meet that deadline? Can’t someone else schedule at least some of the meetings and book the conference rooms or virtual meeting rooms? Sometimes, you just need to say no.
Communicate expectations: If devoting energy and time to meeting your fit-life goals is important to you, be clear about it. For example, change, “I’d like to exercise today, so if you wouldn’t mind helping with the chores” to “I’m going to exercise today, so please vacuum and I’ll dust later.” Or, if you have a friend who always wants you to share dessert or have one more glass of wine, but you’d prefer not to do either on a given occasion, or at all, just say so. Your friend can still enjoy those things and you can just enjoy the conversation (and perhaps a cup of herbal tea).
Take time to get clear not only on what you want your fit-life to look like, but also what you need to do—and stop doing—so you have the energy and time to meet your goals. Sometimes that means putting yourself first. And that’s OK. Because when you do, and you’re happier because of it, you’ll have more to give to others.
