If you’re visiting from the Fitness & Healthy Living Blog Hop, welcome! If you’re a regular and are interested in finding more blogs to follow, you’ll want to check out the list of participants in the hop at Runaway Bridal Planner.
For the past several weeks I’ve participated in the Weekly Wrap hosted by HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin. I originally linked up as a way to connect with other active women, but the act of recapping my week has had another effect: It has helped me do more strategic planning at the beginning of the week, which in turn helps me focus and decide where to spend my time.
I’ve posted before about weekly meal planning and the importance of a weekly cleaning schedule. I’ve discovered that it’s just as important to schedule my leisure time. By that I don’t mean scheduling every minute. I do that for my workday! No, what I’ve found is super helpful is to take a look at the various events to which I’ve been invited for the upcoming week, overlay my training schedule, and make some difficult decisions.
For example, here is what my training schedule says for the upcoming week:
Monday: Run 4
Tuesday: Run 8
Thursday: Run 7
Saturday: Run 14
I also need to start biking and swimming as triathlon training starts in a couple of months and I need to build a base.
And here is the list of events that I’d like to attend this upcoming week:
Tuesday: February Beer & Hymns, 6:30-8:30
Wednesday: 5:30-7:30 Becoming an Outdoorswoman event at Founders Brewing; OR media event for GR Beer Week 7:30-10:30
Thursday: Fresh Thyme Tour 5-8
Saturday: Long run with RunGR, pick up DH from Winter Beer Fest in the afternoon
Did I mention that I work 8-5? Oh, and Sundays are reserved for church/visiting family and meal planning/prep. And my lunch hours are when I do my blogging or running errands.
As you can see beer is a big part of the culture here in West Michigan. Unfortunately, as much as I love spending time with friends, I’m really trying to cut back so I can lose a few pounds of regain. So DH and I decided not to do any beer related events this week since the beer festival is Saturday.
On Tuesday I’m having work on a thigh tattoo done so I won’t be up for putting on any tight running pants. So it looks like this week’s schedule is shaping up to be:
Monday: Run 7
Tuesday: Cleaning evening
Wednesday: Run 8
Thursday: Fresh Thyme Tour
Friday: Run 4 (see what I did? I changed Monday’s run with Thursday’s since Thursday’s was moved to Friday so I could attend the tour, and I don’t want to run 7 the day before 14)
Saturday: Run 14 with EatGR, the pick up DH in the afternoon from beer fest and dinner with friends
So, in order to fit everything in, I’ve had to say no to really fun things with friends on Tuesday and Wednesday. I also noticed that there’s no time for biking or yoga, so looks like I’ll be getting up half an hour early this week to fit in Spinervals and Yoga for Runners on alternating days.
By taking the time to plan in the beginning of the week, I don’t overextend myself and have to cancel plans at the last minute or get to Friday and realize I’ve missed half my runs.
Today’s #AddJoy Challenge is to take a few minutes to look at your schedule for the week. What are your priorities? How can you ensure that you’re leaving time for YOU?
I anticipate that this week will be much more productive than last week. Last weekend DH went out of state for his brother’s wedding, and the combination of being gone and up late with not catching up on my cleaning on the weekend made for a very, very tired week. Here’s this week’s Weekly Wrap:
Monday: Catch up on laundry
Tuesday: Speedwork on Treadmill
Wednesday: Run 4
Thursday: Shopping
Friday: Radio show taping for The Local Feed at WYCE
Saturday: Run 12 with RunGR (10K PR!); run errands, play with sourdough (it was a fail, but I’m learning!)
Sunday: Birthday party for nieces and nephews
I did not get all of my scheduled runs in. But I did get some in, despite feeling tired and behind in housework all week. Here’s to a more organized and successful week!
How was your week?
Busy!! It takes my breath away seeing how busy all of us are, but we’re still committed to getting it all done. Go YOU!!! Michigan is such a beautiful state! Our family lived there for seven years, in the East Lansing area.
East Lansing is lovely!
Man, what a busy week! I’m tired just reading about all that you do!
I have so many interests and want to do all the things! Makes it so important to not overextend myself.
I hope this week is more productive for you! (and me too) sometimes its really hard to fit everything in and even getting close is a victory 😉
Thank you! There is always too much to do, or at least too much I WANT to do 🙂
Beer and Hymns? Awesome!
And yay to triathlon training! What race are you signed up for?
Training takes up so much time, doesn’t it? Having to say no to certain fun things is tough, but you’ll have accomplished something in the end that a lot of others (probably no one in your social circle) will have ever accomplished! Keep it up and good luck!
Yes, beer and hymns is SO fun. Bummed that I need to miss it. But, you are right, accomplishing the bigger goal is more important. I have not signed up for a specific triathlon yet but I have my eye on the Sunrise Side HIM in September.
You do have a busy schedule! Looks like you are logging in a lot of running miles this week too. Visiting from the blog hop! Have a great week
Thanks! I’m using a new marathon training plan and it IS a lot more miles than the Hal Hidgon plan I used for my last one. Hopefully it will help my time improve.
You sound really busy, but scheduling it all would help me too. I got into that habit in high school whenever things piled on top of one another. My mom suggested I schedule and list things so I wouldn’t freak out as much.
It really does help!
Scheduling the week in advance really does help me out! We also schedule our dinners out so we know when we’re making what and when we’re eating out. This ends up to less take out and eating out which is great for my waistline and wallet 🙂 Sounds like you have a great week ahead! Good luck with the tattoo, I love that feeling of a new tattoo to look forward to, though I only have 2.
Tattoos certainly are addictive!
I also have to plan out my week because I’m super busy with two jobs and trying to fit in half marathon training! I’m type A organized so I color code and rewrite everything many times before I finally finish. Something that’s really been helping me lately is writing in my running planning journal- it’s given me a chance to recap my training to find out what works and what doesn’t as well as plan upcoming weeks! I use the Believe Training Journal by Lauren Fleshman. I really love it!
I just checked out that training journal, it’s going on my birthday list!
I think scheduling down time is so important – it looks like you have a very busy training/work/social schedule!
Yes, the social schedule is hard to keep in check because I am in a lot of groups with great people.Luckily most of them are runners or have run so they understand when training means I can’t go.
Your week sounds as busy as mine, how do we find time for a full time job? I’m very glad the Weekly Wrap is working out well for you in your planning. I enjoy seeing how you juggle it all which inspires me to do better about planning my week and workouts! I agree, here’s to a more organized and successful week ahead! Thanks Wendy for joining us again! 🙂
and thank YOU for hosting!
How wonderful that planning your week has resulted in being more intentional in your time. I may not always want to plan, but I know I’m happier at the end of the week when I do 🙂
Being intentional . . . I like that way of looking at it!
Your schedule looks much like mine in terms of how BUSY you are! I swear sometimes I go crazy with all I have on my plate! But writing things down definitely makes it easier because then you can cross/check it off as you go! I applaud you for navigating it all so well AND keeping up with your running program!
Finding so many fellow running bloggers has helped a TON to keep me motivated!
What a busy week! I did not get all my scheduled miles in last week either but i sure had a fun week!
Sometimes you have to set aside the training and have fun for mental health. Just not too much, eh?
Hi Wendy! So great to connect with you again from the blog hop! Thanks for your sweet comment on my post – cool that we are sharing spotlight days! 🙂 I read your about page and WOWWW you and your husband look phenomenal! You look SO happy and gorgeous in that after picture. I love your red hair, too! Also loving the sounds of that #AddJoy challenge. What a great idea – I’ll have to check it out.
thank you so much! I never thought I’d go darker but I really like it. And it’s so much less upkeep than the platinum I’ve been for the past few years
I’m glad to see you in the hop Wendy and on the Weekly Wrap! I glad it’s working aiding you in planning your week. Beer & Hymns — love the concept. I’ve been taking some time on the weekends to get more organized and do some extra cleaning. It definitely helps me feel less stressed. The triathlon interests me, but the swimming part makes me a little nervous. I love the water, but my form is pitiful. When is your triathlon? Thanks for linking with us.
I need to decide what triathlons I’ll be doing this year. Swimming isn’t bad, but it’s not my favorite either. I took some private lessons which helped give me much more confidence. And yes, beer and hymns is so fun! I always wonder what the other people in the bar think when a bunch of us break out the hymnals and swing our beers and sing along.
As I was reading about your week, I was smiling thinking this gal loves beer 🙂 Beer and Hymns, that is a first for me to hear of, have fun!!
Sounds like a busy week, but very cool you planned ahead last week for this week!
Good luck with the tatoo this week!
Thanks! My husband and I actually talked about opening a brewery. But we decided we like our day jobs too much 🙂
Making time to take care of yourself always should be a priority. Another blogger hosted a self care challenge for the first two weeks of February and it was a great way to be reminded daily of the need to make time for yourself, even if its just carving five minutes out of a busy daily schedule.
Yes, even five minutes can restore sanity!
Sounds like you have a busy week ahead! I think creating schedules like the ones you made are the only way to get everything done. I like knowing everything I need to do and when I have time to do it. Also having a schedule is a great way to make sure you don’t accidentally miss anything 🙂
So true! Sometimes I get a notification on Facebook about an event and I’m like, whoops. That happens less when I take time to look through the Facebook events at the beginning of the week for any I might have forgotten to add to my calendar.
Hello from the Blog Hop! I love the idea of scheduling in time for yourself each day. I know that if I’m crazy busy all week it will make me so stressed out! I’m going to have to add that into my weekly schedule for sure!
I love seeing how other people plan their week and their time. A goal this year for me is to get better at planning out my time and stop wasting so much of it! Thanks for the glimpse into your week!
I prefer to think of it as decompressing rather than wasting time 😉
Looks like a great way to plan your week–and I loved the pretty picture!
Thanks! I love colors. I wish my desk in real life looked that clean, ha ha.
Leaving time for ourselves always seems so hard to do, but it’s so important to remember to! Getting that little break makes a world of a difference!
Yes, and I feel like I need more down time than others since I’m an introvert in an extrovert job 🙂
I am a HUGE planner and I totally agree with everything you’re saying! I honestly feel like staying organized is the only way I’m able to get things done!
Yes, people ask me how I’m able to get so much done and I have to say it’s definitely planning.