Like all of the Scoot a Doot chicks, I’ve got a ridiculously busy schedule. NOT like all of the Scoot a Doot chicks, I’m a ridiculous slacker. If we were Smurfs, I’d be Lazy Smurf. Or at very least, Whiny Smurf.
But, you guys, I’m SO busy.
As I sat typing out our family Summer Calendar today, there were a lot of notes about doctor’s appointments (those darn physicals just come around every year, huh) and daycare arrangements and kid’s soccer practices and family vacation plans and so on and so on.
But there wasn’t any me time. A lot of US time, and a super lot of THEM time (the younglings – and as my fellow moms know, their time and my time are completely locked together), but no ME time.
I like me time. I miss me time.
I realize what has happened. My ME time, formerly filled with mani/pedis or movies or laying like a vegetable on my couch, is now spent doing things like trying to fit in a run or trying to make it to the gym or trying to get to the Zumba class I haven’t been to in months.
Did you catch that word I just used? Trying.
When it was mani/pedis, I made gosh darn sure those happened. It’s not like it’s hard to find the motivation to drive over to the nail salon and sit in a chair reading People and having someone massage your tootsies.
My runs? Or even my walks? They aren’t happening with any regularity at this point.
And that doesn’t make sense. Because I want to get in better shape and I’m really focused on weight loss and I know that a run or a Zumba class would certainly help those efforts and I would definitely feel better afterwards but IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE ME TIME.
It feels like work. It should. It is work. But I think, subconsciously, I’ve been struggling a little with taking the little free time I have and using it to go get sweaty and gross instead of polished and girly.
And it’s got to stop. Because while it’s all well and good to have pretty toes, I think it’s more important at this point in my life to be able to reach my toes.
I need to make activity a priority. And I want to, I really, really do. I just… sometimes, I miss being a bum, you know? And lately, when I’ve got one hour left of a hectic day, I’m much more apt to return to bum mode and watch So You Think You Can Dance instead of, oh, I don’t know, actually dancing.
Help? HELP!
For those of you that share my ridiculously small amount of time for ourselves, how do you reconcile it in your brain to spend it on those things that make us better as opposed to those things that only make us look better or feel better temporarily? How do you make yourself pull on your sneakers and just hit it at the end of a long day? In short, how the heck do I get out of my own way?
Bec is busy. Really busy. And whiny. Really whiny. Any tips for a super busy mom trying to fit in working out and having some girly girl time? Because she’s got a half marathon that is getting closer by the day and we’d like her not to die on the Atlantic City boardwalk!
Would I be Poppa?
You totally would. Unless there was a Bossy Smurf. Which I think there was. And then you’d be that.
Oh, you’re totally right.
How about waking up an hour earlier and getting that walk/run in first thing. It can be very energizing to start your day that way. It is then also out of the way to do other things with no guilt?
This is a great time of the year to take it outside. Birds are singing, sun is beautiful and you can get in a quick few miles. Then go home, eat, shower and dress and you still have the whole day to do all your mother/wife/ and “me time”. Just saying….. Note, while I no longer do this, I used to. I worked full time, had a husband who traveled, raised two awesome daughters and I’m still chugging along. You can do it too, that is if you want to. 😉
I love this idea in theory! I’m actually up pretty early as it is, getting the kids ready for school and what not. We’ve had a lot of talks about this in my house as of late, and instead of carving out ‘me’ time, we’re going to make going to gym ‘us’ time and go as a family. Sometimes, we’ll be frolicking in the pool and other times, we’ll actually be in the gym. It’s better for all of us.. and then I don’t have to feel bad when I sneak out for a pedi!
Whenever I get busy (which is basically all the time b/c I have a very bouncy, type-A, can’t-sit-on-the-couch personality) and running seems to get put on the back burner, I do this:
Make a list of the major reasons WHY I run and HOW it makes ME FEEL. I run for me. I run for my body. I run so I can eat balanced and keep a balanced mind. I love the feeling of a sweat. I love the feeling of my legs carrying me. Etc.
I post it somewhere, where it cannot be igored. It is enough to get me out the door on days when I feel like I can’t or don’t have time. Even if it is just for 20 minutes, it puts me in the right mindset.
MAKE THAT ME TIME! 🙂
Omg, I LOVE a list. I think that is a fantastic idea! Thank you 🙂
I used to have this same issue until I finally got fed up and decided that I NEEDED the “Me” time. It was no longer a “Want.”
I started by working out at 5 a.m. but quickly found that I needed just an hour more sleep. So I started working out in the evening, kind of later. (After dinner) First, I’d come home from work and promptly change into my work out clothes. (3 sports bra’s and all) – It was (and still is) such a pain to get into everything so I make sure that if I have my workout clothes on, that I’m actually going to work out. 🙂
I find that I sleep better after working out hard, then coming home taking a nice hot shower and promptly passing the F out because I am so exhausted. haha!
If I don’t go to the gym for a work out, I use my treadmill for a long walk or a run and that’s some extra reading time! (huge incentive for me, cz I love to read!)
I used to have a $$ jar. Every time I’d work out, I’d put $ in it and would reward myself after I got to $X (new book, new clothes, etc..)
And one other thing that I still do is tweet when I work out. There are a few of us on the string. Bec, I’m pretty sure that’s how you and I found each other to begin with – We’re still there! Please feel free to join our tweets. We don’t pressure each other, it’s all about encouragement and kudos. <3 ya!!
OH, I like the jar idea too! I might have to implement that! Thanks for the support, Tyra! I had completely forgotten about the string, but that is exactly how we met. I’m pretty luck to have such awesome supportive folks around 🙂
I don’t have any tips for you, just wanted to give a wave and say hi as I row beside you in the same boat 😉
I find it hard to consider running/cross training as me time when sitting on the couch on my day off, in my sweats with a Doctor Who/Downton Abbey/Game of Thrones marathon seems much more like the ‘Me time’ I know and love.
LOL. This water is starting to look crowded. And can we have a Dr. Who Marathon together?? (Dear David Tennant, I adore you.)
Mostly, I’m working to achieve balance. Some time doing what I NEED to do, and some time doing what I want to do 🙂