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.
Karen you really hit the nail on the head. It is so hard to figure out what works for each person individually. It's like with food, just someone tell me what to eat that will be the best for me and I'll eat it. I don't do so well when I have a million choices to make. I appreciate your insight, and everyone else's, on how to balance things and what you do to make it work.
I also enjoy going to the gym, running with friends and coworkers (it is a little more of a social sport than swimming). I want to try to get into healthy habits now so that I do not hopefully have to face some of the same health problems I see at my job each day.
The way that my schedule is now, most days I have to swim on my own at 5am so that I can get an hour workout in to get to work on time. This is not desirable as I really miss being a part of a team. There are a few days when I can make it to a 6am group workout, but that is not consistent. After work is out of the question for me, as I am too physically exhausted to face the pool. I can get in a quick jog with some coworkers after work if I haven't exercised yet for that day, but it is not the same as swimming. I am sure that most of you would agree that you feel your best after a workout in the pool.
Part of the reason that I brought this thread up was to try to see how others do it. I want to get things sort of figured out now, so that when my husband and I do have children we will be able to figure it out then a little easier (or so I hope!).
Everyone has been so helpful in their advice.
This is SO HARD. And, sorry to say, it doesn't get easier until kids (when you have them) are grown and you have more time. The two keys to success for me are maximum flexibility over when I work out and discipline to work out. The latter is easier if you love to train or work out, which I do.
I have experienced many of the same struggles and issues as Karen as a mother of three. Since I've been a grown up, it's kinda gone like this:
1. Working full time at corporate law firm with no kids and hideous hours: runs after work or hit the gym late or run on my lunch hour. always work out on saturday and Sunday. I also walked back and forth to work, which was 3 miles.
2. Kids come along: Switched from full time to part time (66%) and became an Of Counsel instead of partner. I tried to do what Kirk suggested above and left work on my part time schedule no matter what. Sometimes this pissed people off but I cared more about my kids then them. I would run during lunch, I often went to the gym at 8:30 pm when I tucked my kids in and I would try to work out on the weekends. I didn't swim then, which is much more time consuming, I know. I didn't love working out at night, but I did it anyway and felt better. You may have no choice but to do that if you want to stay fit. I also had times when I worked a ton (including 10:00 pm-2:00am) and didn't work out and vice versa.
3. After kid #3, I quit the corporate law firm. I worked very part time as an independent contractor. I would sometimes often take my kid the gym/pool. I would sometimes hire a babysitter. And I would always work out on the weekends. Now, I am fortunate that all my kids are in school full time, so I try to work or do errands in the am and work out in the early afternoon. But I still have to maintain maximum flexibility. My kid work shift is now 2:30-9:30 or later, plus mornings. My husband has the early morning exercise slot and travels frequently, so I take other slots and often schedule them around all my children's practices. I've found that I can do yoga or drylands or stretching at home as well.
I guess time with hubby takes the biggest hit for me. But he is an athlete too, so understands. I also agree with Karen that it is key to get away every once in awhile to a swim meet. You have to take care of yourself. Also, mommy guilt -- which has been utterly wrenching for me in the past -- does abate over time.
Karen you really hit the nail on the head. It is so hard to figure out what works for each person individually. It's like with food, just someone tell me what to eat that will be the best for me and I'll eat it. I don't do so well when I have a million choices to make. I appreciate your insight, and everyone else's, on how to balance things and what you do to make it work.
I also enjoy going to the gym, running with friends and coworkers (it is a little more of a social sport than swimming). I want to try to get into healthy habits now so that I do not hopefully have to face some of the same health problems I see at my job each day.
The way that my schedule is now, most days I have to swim on my own at 5am so that I can get an hour workout in to get to work on time. This is not desirable as I really miss being a part of a team. There are a few days when I can make it to a 6am group workout, but that is not consistent. After work is out of the question for me, as I am too physically exhausted to face the pool. I can get in a quick jog with some coworkers after work if I haven't exercised yet for that day, but it is not the same as swimming. I am sure that most of you would agree that you feel your best after a workout in the pool.
Part of the reason that I brought this thread up was to try to see how others do it. I want to get things sort of figured out now, so that when my husband and I do have children we will be able to figure it out then a little easier (or so I hope!).
Everyone has been so helpful in their advice.
This is SO HARD. And, sorry to say, it doesn't get easier until kids (when you have them) are grown and you have more time. The two keys to success for me are maximum flexibility over when I work out and discipline to work out. The latter is easier if you love to train or work out, which I do.
I have experienced many of the same struggles and issues as Karen as a mother of three. Since I've been a grown up, it's kinda gone like this:
1. Working full time at corporate law firm with no kids and hideous hours: runs after work or hit the gym late or run on my lunch hour. always work out on saturday and Sunday. I also walked back and forth to work, which was 3 miles.
2. Kids come along: Switched from full time to part time (66%) and became an Of Counsel instead of partner. I tried to do what Kirk suggested above and left work on my part time schedule no matter what. Sometimes this pissed people off but I cared more about my kids then them. I would run during lunch, I often went to the gym at 8:30 pm when I tucked my kids in and I would try to work out on the weekends. I didn't swim then, which is much more time consuming, I know. I didn't love working out at night, but I did it anyway and felt better. You may have no choice but to do that if you want to stay fit. I also had times when I worked a ton (including 10:00 pm-2:00am) and didn't work out and vice versa.
3. After kid #3, I quit the corporate law firm. I worked very part time as an independent contractor. I would sometimes often take my kid the gym/pool. I would sometimes hire a babysitter. And I would always work out on the weekends. Now, I am fortunate that all my kids are in school full time, so I try to work or do errands in the am and work out in the early afternoon. But I still have to maintain maximum flexibility. My kid work shift is now 2:30-9:30 or later, plus mornings. My husband has the early morning exercise slot and travels frequently, so I take other slots and often schedule them around all my children's practices. I've found that I can do yoga or drylands or stretching at home as well.
I guess time with hubby takes the biggest hit for me. But he is an athlete too, so understands. I also agree with Karen that it is key to get away every once in awhile to a swim meet. You have to take care of yourself. Also, mommy guilt -- which has been utterly wrenching for me in the past -- does abate over time.
