Creating Time

“I don’t have enough time to do ______.”  “I need more hours in my day.”  “I have too much to do.” 

Statements I often hear in conversations or see on social media posts. 

Statements I have said often! – I didn’t have time to fold the laundry.  I didn’t have time to empty the dishwasher.  I didn’t have time to wash the dishes. 

See the trend?  They were tasks I didn’t want to do, so I didn’t have time for them! 

I used to think there was not enough time in the day to accomplish everything I wanted (needed?) to get done.  I have since gained a new understanding on time.  I have created a better relationship with time. 

Creating a better relationship with time is something I have been working on for a couple years and have made great progress on.  It wasn’t until I read something recently that really helped things click for me. 

I read a book recently (The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks) in which talked about what we truly make a priority.  The point that really hit home was when he talked about how if your child came in and wanted to play while you were in the middle of something, you may say something like “I don’t have time right now.”  Whereas, if the child came in with a bad injury that needed tending to, you would likely drop everything and help your child. 

Same time.  Different priority! 

I can guess the thoughts you might be having.  “Well, emergency situations are different.”  And yes, while that is true, I want you to think about something… 

You will always do what is important to you, whatever that means to you – job, family, friends, training, hobbies, etc.  You will always find time to complete the things that must be done.  So why can’t you do that with the things you want to do? 

You can…if you make it a priority. 

As I stated earlier, “I didn’t have time to fold the laundry.  I didn’t have time to empty the dishwasher.  I didn’t have time to wash the dishes.” 

Amazingly, when I switched my thoughts and told myself there is always enough time, I had plenty of time to get those things done.  And even more incredible, the tasks took me all of 5-10 minutes!  Yes, those things I didn’t have time to do are now getting completed easily during my week.  Last I checked, I didn’t gain any more hours in my day.  I instead learned how to create time for those things that I was avoiding simply because I didn’t want to do them. 

How does this relate to you and your fitness goals? 

I often hear people say they don’t have time to eat healthy, to prepare meals, etc.  I hear reasons for why people don’t have time to get a workout in. 

Well, let’s create time for you to do these things so you can accomplish all your goals this year! 

Eating healthy really doesn’t take a lot of time.  It can actually be really simple! 

• Cooking up some meat for dinner?  Great!  Make extra to eat for several days for snacks or other meals! 
• Have a slow cooker or InstantPot?  Awesome!  Start using it to make bigger batches of food.  You can either eat the leftovers for meals that week or freeze them in small containers for quick meals at a later date. 
• Veggies?  Those can easily be put in a pan and cooked on the stove in all of 10-15 minutes.  You don’t even need to watch it most times!  (I will often put mine in the pan when I get home and then go change clothes and go to the bathroom.  By the time I am done, it is nearly finished.) 

• Find a block of 1-2 hours that you can do a batch meal prep.  You can make A LOT of food and meals in 1-2 hours! 

Working out doesn’t have to be real time consuming either.  Yes, we sometimes get in our heads that we need to train for at least an hour for it to be effective.  I used to think that as well.  Totally not true! 

• Have 5 minutes?  See how many burpees you can do in 5 minutes.  You can pick any body weight movement to do this with, burpees are great, though, since it is a full body movement.  If you push hard the entire time, you will get a great workout in a short time! 
• Sitting on the floor with your kids?  Awesome!  Stretch while you are down there.  You can sit in a lot of different positions that will work on gaining you some mobility. 
• Have a little longer but still can’t leave the house (or office).  Create a body weight workout for yourself.  So many movements to choose from!!! 

• Have to go several floors up to get to your office or another business?  Awesome!  Take the stairs instead of the elevator. 

Often, it is not a matter of not having time, but rather not creating time.  Sometimes reaching your goals just takes a little creativity.  Start creating the time for YOU! 

Want to read more on how I created this life for myself?  Read my story and discover more strategies in Own Your Day, Own Your Life. 

Know you need to do something, but not sure what to do?  Let’s chat!  Schedule a call with me to see what you can do to create more time in your day and life!