Scheduling your exercise

az2wp0sye65487

OK - so we all have other life commitments, work/school/college/family etc. etc.

How do you schedule time for your exercise?

I work 9 to 5. When you factor in commuting it can extend to say 8am to 6pm.

I'm also studying, so a lot of my free time is taken up with that.

I'm training for a marathon at the moment too - but finding it difficult to dedicate enough time to running.

I also have to give time to family life - I've no kids, but am in a relationship - and between work, my studies & running - we don't get a lot of time together.

At one stage I was running early in the mornings, and studying in the evenings. But I was finding it tough to drag myself out of bed at 5am to go for a run! - I also didn't feel as if I was getting the most out of my exercise first thing in the mornings either...

I did have a gym membership, which has recently expired. I didn't renew as I wasn't using it for the last few months. All I really do is: work / study / run (when I can)... that's it!

Any ideas??

What do others do? - I'd love to hear how you give time to your exercise regimes!

Thanks!

dahat

I guess i am lucky that i work shifts so i manage a job,family and run time quite well...About the only upside of flunking my way through school to end up in a bog standard factory job!

calfmuscle

If you get an hour lunch break you could try and get 4-6 miles in then. Even if you only did this once a week it free's up an evening to spend with the partner.

You could also try jogging to work or only driving half way?

You could try and get an hour of study in at the lunch break as well but it might a bit tough on the brain!

az2wp0sye65487

Yeah, I was thinking of things like that... No showers where I work, and it's office based so no chance of being able to exercise during lunch!

I cycle to work when I can, but sometimes need the car to go to meetings etc.

tHE vAGGABOND

I do a couple of runs a week early in the morning, so get up at 6am or so, and do an hour run. The hardest part is getting your feet onto the ground after waking up, but after that I normally feel great for rest of the day.

I also run to or from work at least once a week [we have showers in our building, but my last job I did same thing, but showered in gym next door].

Important to focus your running on quality runs not just large amounts of junk mileage. So you dont need 2 hour runs in the morning, but an hour of quality is enough for "most" of the time.

Between those two I get my runs in without a huge amount of disruption to the rest of my life

xgtdec

Your borderline part of the "just dont have the time" brigade...dont fall into that trap!!

you basically have to decide if you want to run, or you dont....you seem to have a long long list of stuff that comes before running, might you be able to re adjust this list so that running is higher up, for say 6 weeks and see how it works out for you. Getting up at 6am and running before work takes a split second to decide on...you can get out there and get it done or you can go back to bed....but you wont run a lot of marathons under your duvet;)

El Horseboxo

I began getting my workouts in at 6.30am when it was necessary. It's tough at first but you get used to it and after a while I felt that my energy levels were better at that hour than say 6pm. It helped that my gym is in my shed. It's very easy to stay in bed when you plan on exercising that early. But if you're dedicated and motivated enough you'll overcome it. The first week will be difficult but your body will get used to the idea.

az2wp0sye65487

xgtdec wrote: »

Your borderline part of the "just dont have the time" brigade...dont fall into that trap!!

you basically have to decide if you want to run, or you dont....you seem to have a long long list of stuff that comes before running, might you be able to re adjust this list so that running is higher up, for say 6 weeks and see how it works out for you. Getting up at 6am and running before work takes a split second to decide on...you can get out there and get it done or you can go back to bed....but you wont run a lot of marathons under your duvet;)

:eek: You're right! I re-read my post and it stinks of excuses!!!

I remember reading somewhere before that when people say 'I don't have the time' - they are not actually saying that they don't have the time. What they are really saying is 'it's not high enough on my list of priorities for me to give time to it' .... or something to that effect...

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I began getting my workouts in at 6.30am when it was necessary. It's tough at first but you get used to it and after a while I felt that my energy levels were better at that hour than say 6pm. It helped that my gym is in my shed. It's very easy to stay in bed when you plan on exercising that early. But if you're dedicated and motivated enough you'll overcome it. The first week will be difficult but your body will get used to the idea.

Back when I was in school I used to train swimming from 06.30 to 07.30 a few mornings a week.... it did just become routine after a while to get up early. Only thing was, if I didn't feel like getting up back then my brother would drag me outta bed! - Now though, it's all too easy to climb back into bed when the alarm goes off!!!

hardCopy

I generally only use morning sessions for short runs 5-6K, anything longer just means getting out of bed too early for me. Sundays are usually good for me to get the longer runs in, or Monday evenings at a push.

Orando Broom

How far is your commute? can you run any part of it? Have you shower facilities in work? By public transport could you get off a few stops earlier?

By car; could you park up outside town and run there and back?

Just a couple of ideas..

huskerdu

Don't be hard on yourself.

You have to schedule in job / study / housework / running / sleeping and having some time for yourself.

You cant reduce the hours you work, and probably can't reduce the amount you study, and you shouldn't reduce the amount you sleep, or everything else will suffer.

Look at the amount of time necessary to train for the marathon and decide if you can dedicate this or not, this year. If you decide to go for it, it will reduce the amount of time that you have for your relationship, and other time for yourself, but if you have the drive to make this goal, then it is worth it. Think of the acheivement you will feel when you have completed it, and dont see the running as a chore to be fitted in.

But, if you simply can't dedicate the time, while also studying, and the whole thing is stressing you, then decide to do a half-marathon instead so you can enjoy your running and the rest of your life. There will be plenty of years to do a marathon.

The important thing is that you decide what you really want to do, and go for it.

az2wp0sye65487

huskerdu wrote: »

Don't be hard on yourself.

You have to schedule in job / study / housework / running / sleeping and having some time for yourself.

You cant reduce the hours you work, and probably can't reduce the amount you study, and you shouldn't reduce the amount you sleep, or everything else will suffer.

Look at the amount of time necessary to train for the marathon and decide if you can dedicate this or not, this year. If you decide to go for it, it will reduce the amount of time that you have for your relationship, and other time for yourself, but if you have the drive to make this goal, then it is worth it. Think of the acheivement you will feel when you have completed it, and dont see the running as a chore to be fitted in.

But, if you simply can't dedicate the time, while also studying, and the whole thing is stressing you, then decide to do a half-marathon instead so you can enjoy your running and the rest of your life. There will be plenty of years to do a marathon.

The important thing is that you decide what you really want to do, and go for it.

Thanks for that. Forgot about this thread to be honest!

I did Belfast Marathon anyway earlier this month, it was horrible due to the shocking weather - but looking back, I enjoyed it and I'm glad I did it.

With regards to study - I've only 2 assignments left to hand in. One is due next week and the other is due Mid June... so that will free up some time in Late June, July & August - then exams in September!

Started going to TRX classes 3 times a week and I'm enjoying them. It's tough but very enjoyable. Really feels like you've done something (as opposed to going to the gym with no real aim, doing bits & pieces and then going home once you get bored! )

I've also got a (running) training partner for the summer. A mate is training for Dublin Marathon - so we'll be able to get a lot of training done together!