Out of Time

I honestly wonder from time to time where my days go.

Every once in a while, I'll sit down and really map out the week that I've had, hour-by-hour. When I feel like I've been efficient every day but still didn't have time to complete everything that I needed to complete, I have to look at each day to see where I lost my time.

Usually, it happens on weeks of more than average activity, but there are always a few items to which I can point as culprits in the theft of my time. Sleep, for example, usually occupies more hours of my day than it needs to. Some say that your body sleeps as long as it needs to, but mine sleeps as long as my schedule allows it. If I don't hold myself to a certain number of sleeping hours each night, I'll snooze as long as I can and just end up being groggier than if I'd slept less. The first key to a more efficient week is sleep regulation.

Next comes work, but those hours are more regimented. It's my other work that usually creeps up on me. A couple hours of rehearsal here, a few hours of memorization there, and before you know it, I've got a part time schedule in addition to my full time job. Couple that with travel time, meals and the general loss of time moving from one activity to another, and there isn't time in the day for much else.

However, for almost 13 straight weeks now, I've made time for my run. Even if I haven't been able to get the blog post written for every one of them, I've made it out for at least three miles every single day since January 3rd.

Now, if I could get my run as regimented as I do my work, I'd be in good shape. I'm never more productive than when I've gotten my run and writing done first thing in the morning. It wakes up my body and my brain, it makes me climb in the shower and get dressed, and, perhaps most importantly, it means there are two fewer things on my "To Do" list for the day. This is my goal for April. Very much like February, I want to be up on time and out the door for my run. Unlike February, I won't be doing so for any kind of monetary reward. The bonus this time around will be my increased productivity and, thereby, my relaxed schedule and eased nerves.

It's important that I get myself focused now, because my training for the South Bend marathon has officially begun. There was a possibility that something else would need my attention that weekend, but as it turns out, I'm perfectly free. Two months from today, I'm going to qualify for Boston.

That is, if I can find the time.

Monday's Workout:
69 degrees, cloudy
5.15 Miles