Step-by-step
On yesterday’s post a few of you asked me how I found the time to do all the activity I do! Well, ladies and gents, I now have a step-by-step, fool-proof plan for all of you.
It’s a very simple three-step process. Are you guys ready for this? OK, here’s what you need to do:
Step 1
Move far, far away from your husband, fiance, boyfriend, whatever (or have him move far away from you). You must be at least far enough away that weekend visits are impossible and you only see each other every 4-6 weeks.
Step 2
Live in a place where you only have a small group of girlfriends and, now listen carefully to this next part because it’s important, they must ALL have boyfriends, husbands, fiances or a S.O. NO single girlfriends allowed. They must be busy with there S.O. most nights of the week and/or work completely opposite schedules to you. I.e. you get weekends off and they work weekends.
Step 3
Sign-up for some event that seems crazy and out-of-reach to you. It doesn’t have to be a marathon but it has to be something that seems like a stretch. That way, when you’re sitting around doing nothing because of the above two reasons, you’ll think to yourself, “hey, I might as well go exercise!”
There you have it, folks. It’s that simple. 
In other news, today is Wednesday, a.k.a. my day off from my full-time job. I don’t like to call it my “day off” though because I have freelance projects, laundry, errands, cleaning and a 5-mile run to tackle. I try to stay productive on Wednesdays even though I don’t have to go into the office.
What do you do on your “days off”?
I can definitely see how #1 would work but I’m not going to move or make him move, haha. Back a few years ago we were long distance for the whole summer and we actually lost weight. I should sign up for something and work on that for now.
I’m at the pool on my days off.. or designing websites. Lately that has been time consuming but I love doing it!
I can totally see how you would be able to get so much done. As much as it stinks to not be around the people you love, it must kind of be nice to be so productive! Enjoy your day off!
Haha aww
I think a lot of people move away from friends and family and still don’t exercise so give yourself some credit!
I love your Wednesday off thing- I know I would’ve picked Friday or Monday but not been nearly as productive! Do you get them “off” all year? It’s great that it leaves you some time for freelance and marathon training and all that fun stuff!
I don’t have any single friends either! But my married friends have all been married for like 1-4 years, so most of them are out of the honeymoon phase and are ready for girlfriend time. So I am very lucky that I still get to see them on a somewhat regular basis. I do wish I had one single friend so I would have someone that is living a similar life, but oh well!
I usually try to balance my days off with productive stuff (errand running, laundry, cleaning), running, and restorative activities (knitting, crocheting, watching a movie, reading a book). My days of need a balance of all 3 so that I am ready to go back to work on Monday!
Hahahaha!
Enjoy your day out of the office – hope you get everything on your to-do list done!
Hehehe, loved this!
My days off consist of catching up with the loads of housework, freelance, errands and spending some QT with the hubs.
Days off are spent trying to be as active as possible (usually- there’s always the exception…). Since I work at a desk all day during the week, I try to enjoy being free to get out and about.
And I love your pointers… it’s pretty much true. Because I do the same for the most part. haha And I still find ways to stay busy with stuff- there’s never enough time!
Your day off sounds like my day off! I work 6 days a week too and find that my one day off is always full. Laundry, cleaning up the room from during the week when I didn’t feel like cleaning, you know…the fun stuff
LOL I loved this!!
Unfortunately I usually clean on my days off 
BUT with D being on summer holidays now that is all taken care of throughout the week so hopefully I’ll be spending more time writing on those days. And starting to get in shape 
Love the plan
On my days off, I like to try to read for fun. I don’t get to do that nearly enough when I’m in school.
Also, I’m sick of graduate school. I miss the working world (never thought I would say that)!
Ha! In contract to Step 1 though – the alternative would be to have a S.O. that is active With you!
Just sayin’.
Loved the ST post yesterday too, you tackled that workout!
That’s how I trained for my first marathon too. I was home for the summer, living at my parents, interning during the day and away from all my friends. I had no problem at all going to bed early on Fridays to wake up for Saturday long runs. My social life did not impede on my training in the least.
This is adorable, I love it! I’m starting to be more productive on my days off, and even more so when I get off work! I get off around 10:30-1, depending on the day, and I don’t use my time wisely at all! Hehe! I need to be more like you.
Ha ha. This is why I love you, Amber. People ask me how I do so much too, and the answer is that I obviously have no life.
It definitely helps to have few distractions! I know that when I was single and all my friends were partnered, I had the most time to train and focus on my personal goals and growth. Now it’s more difficult, but I keep it as a main priority bc if I don’t keep achieving athletic goals, I won’t be a happy girl and therefore won’t be as good of a girlfriend, friend or daughter.
Love this post
I suppose I shouldn’t move up there then cause I’d mess with your #2 rule but how fun would that be!?
On my days off I tend to do errands, laundry, go to the bank, pay the bills, etc etc. Nothing super fun or exciting to ohters, but fun to me! Sometimes I’ll treat myself to a facial or a pedicure or just a relaxing nap. Depends on the day. Lately my weekends (aka days off) are super busy so I don’t get much stuff done!
Hey I have almost the same plan! Except I don’t have a boyfriend….
Monday night conversation:
me: Kickboxing ends at 5:40-5:45 and women’s running clinic starts at 6 so I could actually do both!
friend: The fact that you worked out the times means you have a sickness.
me: What else am I going to do with that hour between work and running clinic?
Days off? I forgot what those are!
I don’t get days off anymore, but when I DID I made really long to-do lists to keep myself busy. I don’t handle “relaxing” very well …
HAHA!
Amber, you are SO cute! I love it.
#1 – he works away – DONE
#2 – 3/4 way there – DONE
#3 – Goal set – GO!
The crazy thing about your fool proof plan… it does work!
With the exception that when your S.O. Comes for a visit…. I totally fall off the wagon! Any suggestions for that?
xo
tam.
Haha you crack me up! When I have a day off mid-week I try to get all my chores done – house cleaning, ironing, groceries – so I can relax with the hubby when he gets home from work. I try to include some time for me but it usually just ends up being 5 minutes on the internet.
Hahahaha I LOVED this. It completely explains why I never get a set schedule with my working out …. and end up going at completely bizarre times and people think I am crazy for doing cardio at 11PM after I have drank 3 beers.
#1: At the end of 3rd year I am pretty sure was the best shape I have been in – all because Tyler was not in Edmonton with me. Enter the big move in together = I am estimating 10 pounds on my behind.
#2: All my good friends in Edmonton are single, and like to live the single life. I am a supportive friend, so I join them in the appropriate activities.
#3: Maybe I should do this. It might be my golden ticket.
My days off now involve going to FSJ or Edmonton for the weekend, in which I am either sitting on the couch/patio/hot tub basically being spoon fed my favorite foods by the parents or in Edmonton being on the go with Tyler and company!
I am really not surprised you are still a ‘planner’ on your days off! Haha, this is why you are doing so well!
i for sure had much more free time when my boyfriend was away at college…. however, it is nice having him around now- even if it means i cant exercise as much!
I LOVE having productive days off. I feel so useless if I laze around reading blogs on a day off, but I hate using my weekends to do chores. Weekends are for FUN. I think having a mid-week day off would be awesome.
Also, I totally agree with you that it’s easier when you’re alone.
I feel so guilty to admit that I’m always upset when AB skips his soccer training during the week (which frequently happens). I should really be grateful that we have another evening to spend together, but when we live together 24/7 I’d just LOVE an evening to myself at home so I can clean, go running, cook dinner, blog with no interruptions. I know he means well, but he’s always interrupting or distracting me from getting things done and the next thing you know, it’s 10pm, bedtime and dishes are unwashed, the laundry is still outside and the house is a mess. I swear it’s like having a 5 year old.
When I have days off I am usually busy preparing to have friends for dinner, or I am out of town. It will be nice to have 2 months of “days off” this summer so that I can do all sorts of things!
LOL! I’m afraid I’ve got steps 1&2 down, it’s step 3 I haven’t really got to.
I get a minimum of 4 days off a week now from uni, so one day is spent doing absolutely nothing. I recharge my batteries, catch up on tv, read blogs, eat, maybe see some friends. Another day is spent cleaning, and doing household chores. Another day is spent preparing for uni, which in my book includes ironing (don’t ask why I associate that with uni/school, but I always have), researching, going through notes, etc. That gives me one other day to do all the stuff I didn’t get done on the other days.
But this is just the way it’s been for 2 weeks, it’ll all change over the next month.
you really do make me smile. I feel like that at times too. Most of my close close friends are either in grad school, a different city, or married. Time is limited….I took a day off yesterday and had no idea what to do with myself. I cleaned my house and made a grocery list. Ummm yeah.