I have been struggling lately finding balance in my life. For short period of time, I was able to focus most of my time on my family, but I wasn't doing enough for myself and I was not happy. When I decided to focus more on myself and swim more often, I wasn't very happy with how much time I was spending away from my family. The past few months, work interrupted my swimming schedule and other life happenings required most of my focus; now my swimming has been much less than what I want it to be. I want to find a happy balance between all three. I know that compared to some of you that I am still young, but I worry that my life is slipping away and I am not enjoying it as much as I can.
I am curious as to how to find that magical balance and be happy with all three, or if I am looking for something that does not exist. Thanks.
Katie, I struggled with your dilemma for a while, too. I have a 4, soon to be 5 year old at home and don't work out side of the house. My son goes to pre-school 3 days a week but it's not really enough time for me to get in a workout while he's in school. When we first moved here I was going to the pool at 5:30, when they opened to the public, and swimming on my own for 30 min before the masters got in. I'd swim until 6:30, get out and be home by 7. But that meant my husband was getting to work 30 min late on my swim days. Not good. So.. my solution was to ask the local age group team if I could swim with them. I now get up at 4am and swim from 4:45-6:05, I'm home by 6:30 and my husband can get to work on time. This is a way where I can still get in my swimming and yet no one in my house is affected. I do swim on Saturdays and my husband is home. It's my "mommy free time" as we call it. I figure after being home all week and Matthew, 3 hours on Sat for swimming is good for me :) If I worked out of the house, I don't know how my schedule would change, though.
As for meets, I just make sure to ask my husband if it's okay that I go to a meet and make sure that he doesn't have any reason to be gone that day. So far that hasn't happened and he's been fine with me gone. I try to get him to come to my meets as well but to him, they aren't exactly fun.
What ages are your kids? What time do you have to go to work? Can you work from home so you can swim more?
Katie, I struggled with your dilemma for a while, too. I have a 4, soon to be 5 year old at home and don't work out side of the house. My son goes to pre-school 3 days a week but it's not really enough time for me to get in a workout while he's in school. When we first moved here I was going to the pool at 5:30, when they opened to the public, and swimming on my own for 30 min before the masters got in. I'd swim until 6:30, get out and be home by 7. But that meant my husband was getting to work 30 min late on my swim days. Not good. So.. my solution was to ask the local age group team if I could swim with them. I now get up at 4am and swim from 4:45-6:05, I'm home by 6:30 and my husband can get to work on time. This is a way where I can still get in my swimming and yet no one in my house is affected. I do swim on Saturdays and my husband is home. It's my "mommy free time" as we call it. I figure after being home all week and Matthew, 3 hours on Sat for swimming is good for me :) If I worked out of the house, I don't know how my schedule would change, though.
As for meets, I just make sure to ask my husband if it's okay that I go to a meet and make sure that he doesn't have any reason to be gone that day. So far that hasn't happened and he's been fine with me gone. I try to get him to come to my meets as well but to him, they aren't exactly fun.
What ages are your kids? What time do you have to go to work? Can you work from home so you can swim more?
