Happy September Fit and Fabulous Floridians! It’s hard to believe summer break is over and school is back in session. It’s time to get back on a schedule and get into the groove of managing your time. Let’s face it - for some of us, summer vacation means traveling, staying up late, sleeping in, enjoying time with our family and friends without the responsibility of running our kids back and forth from school, packing lunches, chaperoning field trips, doing laundry and much, much more!
“I can buy anything I want, but I can’t buy time.” These wise words were said by investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet about being careful about how you use your time. Time is a precious gift that we only have so much of in a day, week, month, year and even a lifetime. How we use our time reflects on who we are and the legacy we leave behind. Time can also affect our physical and mental well-being if not used wisely.
When my kids were in kindergarten, they had a Mother’s Day paper they filled out about their moms. One of the questions was “What does your mom like to do the most?” You can translate that to mean how does your mom spend most of her time? All three of my kids wrote that I liked to spend time with them, but also how much time I spent cleaning the house. This was an eye-opener for me. How were people, especially those closest to me, going to remember me? Was I spending time bouncing around from one thing to the next without a game plan, ending the day feeling chaotic and tired, or was I organized, happy, and able to give attention to those I love and care about? Being unorganized and poorly managing your time can cause feelings of anxiety that can wear you down, both physically and mentally, and those feelings get projected onto those around you. So…how can we manage our time better and get to a place of peace and accomplishment? Let me “chime” in with some things that have helped me:
1. Put together a schedule in advance and stick to it
2. Set time blocks for yourself to complete certain tasks that might not be your favorite things to do, known as “undesirables,” and eliminate distractions, including putting that phone away until that task is completed in full
3. Set a reasonable number of “undesirable” tasks for the day. Doing a few things and completing them is far more satisfying than overextending yourself and leaving things undone
4. Make time for health, sleep, fun and hobbies
Let’s set this clock back and do a quick review. Time is one thing we cannot buy or get back. Time management is critical for an overall sense of well-being. Sticking to a schedule can drastically improve productivity and your sense of accomplishment. Set some “me time” aside each day for reflection, physical fitness, hobbies, and family. As everyone gets back into their groove of the school year, remember time is a gift - try to take a breath and enjoy the minutes.
CAT Burke is the owner of GETCATFIT Marco Island Fitness Bootcamp, Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching. She has over 30 years’ experience as a fitness professional, holds a BS in Kinesiology, is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. CAT is also active in the natural bodybuilding industry as a professional athlete and judge. CAT may be reached at info@getcatfit.com. Website: www.getcatfit.com.
