Work. School. Coaching. Family. Training. Needless to say, I’ve got a lot going on. (I should be a professional juggler with all the things flying around in the air.) This past year, I spent some time evaluating how I streamlined my activities (adjusted quite a few areas that were NOT efficient). I developed 4 tips to manage work, school, family, training, and LIFE without sacrificing one or more in the process.
1. Make an appointment with yourself and stick to it. Treat training/exercise as a work meeting and hold yourself accountable for following through. Set your schedule each day with your workout in it, and make sure everyone knows that you have that time set apart.
2. Prioritize! Make a list of those essential and time-consuming elements of your life and arrange them in order from most to least critical and time-worthy. Please note that I DID NOT say “list from most important to least.” They are ALL important.
For example, I made a list for myself. My list is 1) Family 2) Coaching 3) Training 4) Work 5) School. Does this mean that work and school are not important? NO! It means that I can adjust my work and school schedules more easily to meet my family, coaching, and training demands.
3. Have a strong support system. Your system may include your friends, family, cycling/running club, your coaching team, or your own unique support! Whoever may be in your system is there for a reason. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance along your athlete journey.
4. Learn to say “No”... and be okay with it! Saying “Yes” to something may mean saying “No” to something else. You may not like this idea at first, but soon, you may realize that it’s crucial for your mental and physical well-being. We only have a finite number of hours each day. Perhaps inserting one activity into your calendar will not allow you to have enough hours left in the day to properly recharge - both mentally and physically - and still accomplish that big “A” race goal. Therefore, learn to say “no” and be okay with it.
Fitting different schedules and goals together may be tricky at first, but following these tips will alleviate stress and help include happiness in a busy life. Do you balance multiple schedules while you train for a race? How have you adjusted your schedule to meet your goals?
Coach Becky Piper is a USA Triathlon Certified Level 1 Triathlon Coach, Paratriathlon Coach, and Cycling Coach. She is currently on her way to Michigan but has made a little stopover in Wisconsin to see friends and family while her husband Sam is serving in the military. Her dog, Gunner, is with her on the long adventure across the country. She is the reigning national champion in the Time Trial and Road Race in women’s C2 Paracycling and is preparing for her debut in the Paralympic Trials, but her true passion is coaching. Coach Becky can be reached at becky@teammpi.com.
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