Erika from MCM Mama Runs, and Patty from No-Guilt Life. This week's topic is how you balance running with other responsibilities.
As I have written about before, I am very busy and stay organized as best I can. Working full time and going to school full time while keeping up traveling and training for races is a lot. I think that's a large part of the reason I have signed up for so many races. If I pay to run, it will keep me on track so I can do what I need to do to stay healthy. The main thing I do is prioritize!
I have a calendar in my office that keeps me organized for the semester and has all of my assignments, races, travels, large events and weekend long runs on it. It keeps me knowing what is coming up.
I also organize my time. Workouts happen before work. I usually have one rest day and 2 run days and 2 other days (core, strength and/or flexibility). I can only do a Max of 3 miles as I need to get home and get showered and dressed.
I go into work late on Wednesdays so that my grocery shopping and then prep day. Friday after work is my secondary prep day.
I also meal plan like crazy. I just buy enough food to get through the week and then prep all of it for lunch and/or dinner for the week. I often do crock pot meals once which last for 2-3 meals and heat up in oven meals which also last for 2-3 meals.
After work, starting around 8, I start my homework until about 9:30. I do most of my reading on the train (I'm all done for the semester! Woohoo) so I rarely read textbooks at home. I also work on planning my assignments so they are done early.
I also try really hard to get enough sleep. My goal is to get ready for bed by 10 and in bed by10:30 for a 6:15 wake up call.
I also allow myself to do fun things on the weekend but it can't be all day. I can do something in the afternoon or evening but not both: I gotta get my homework done!
But that's a snapshot into my life and how I stay organized.
How do you stay organized?