Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Bound by Time
Good morning 
After a super busy Tuesday (8:30-6:30….but all fun work!) yesterday was a much more relaxing day. I had no formal work on the agenda – just admin work to do at my desk. I had a blog post for MuesliFusion to finish up, worked on a couple new client programs who are starting next week, and called back and emailed some contacts for possible future KIND marketing work.
Sometime in there, I walked to the gym to lift, and then took Niko for a walk/run. The day’s main lifts were chin ups and front squats at the gym. Then I just did a few supplement exercises after that, and finished with a burpee/plyo lunge finisher.
And the post-workout walk was just simply gorgeous! Colorado has welcomed me back with ample sun and temps high in the 60’s. I love it – I wish it would stay like this all the time!!
This might sound really silly to you, but on days where I don’t have any set work hours – no clients or classes and no KIND seedings/samplings/events – I tend to have a mild level of anxiety. I think I just thrive when I have some sort of semblance of a time-bound schedule. So much, that I set deadlines on my to do list. I’ll say that I have to get my workout done by this time, finish writing a blog post at this time, and be back home from grocery shopping by a certain, etc. You get the picture.
I let my to-do list become my schedule – timelines and everything – as evidenced by this old to do list!
Ha! That list is from this post where I admit I’m not much of a skier (I’m hoping to change that this year
)
Anyway, it’s silly. Yesterday, however, I was surprised to realize that I wasn’t letting the clock dictate my day…at all (no mild anxiety either.) I had nothing pressing on my agenda, and I actually let myself enjoy that. Instead of rushing around at the gym, getting my workout in and getting out, I made eye contact with others, and even had full out conversations in the middle of my workout. Sure, I may have extended my workout time from 60 minutes to 90 minutes, but that was A-OK.
And on my walk with Niko, instead of walking fast to get it done, we walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying the gorgeous day, and the clear view of the mountains we had while walking.
I never get sick of our neighborhood walks, with this view!
I continued this I’ll-get-to-it-when-I’m-there attitude throughout the entire day, and eventually got all most of my to-do’s done. Being bound by time has been a battle I’ve had for years. However, I’ve also been working really hard to not let the clock stress me out. These are some of the things that help the most:
- Completely change the clock in my car to the wrong time, so that I can’t figure out what time it really is. To me, knowing the time while driving is pointless. I’m already on my way to where I’m going. Being stressed out by the time I have to get there won’t get me there any faster.
- Not looking at my phone every 5 minutes. I’m doing much better about looking at my phone all of the time during the day. When I’m at the computer, or doing something around the house, I’ll put it away. And after dinner, when it’s time to wind down for the night, all electronics stay on my desk. If I need to do something on the computer/ipad/phone, I have to go to my desk…not on the couch.
- Really, just being a calmer person in general. I can be a little….not really high stress, but…reactionary. I have to work on being calm and absorbing things before I react.
Do you tend to let the clock rule your day and daily activities a little too much?
I so agree. When I put myself under time pressure, I end up getting anxious and sometimes even sleepless because I try so hard to put myself to sleep that I can’t! Your approach is how I’ve been trying to handle things lately as well.
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves recently posted…WIAW: Strange But Good
oh the clock. I don’t live by it anymore. It actually stressed out my husband more when i set deadlines. So i just said, screw it. I’ll things done by time or without it.
lindsay recently posted…Joy & the Journey …Plus Grain Free Blueberry Banana Nut Sticky Bread
Great post! I’m work well under pressure but I do get that super stressed feeling that lasts all day!
Jackie recently posted…My first WIAW!
SO true! I tend to feel extra guilty when I am not working during the day and my husband is at work. It’s like I have to spend every minute of the day doing something to make up for the fact that he is at work. Like I have to prove (to him?) that I am not a lazy bum while he is working hard for the money. My to-do list gets extra long on those days!
I’m a pretty time bound person, but I almost HAVE to be. With the kids’ schedules I have a lot less freedom in my own schedule if I want to be involved with them so need to keep myself to certain time constraints as well. I won’t lie and say it never bothers me. I have days where I have that anxiety feeling that just won’t quit and now it’s because of time. But I try a lot more now than I used to to go with the flow if there’s a day I just need to let it all go too. That’s definitely progress for me. Although, I would probably have more of those days with a walking view like yours! 🙂
My life is all about the clock these days. It’s hard because I don’t really dictate my schedule since there are so many other people involved with it. I actually feel better now though since I’m teaching classes and I have a good amount of training clients. I like the constant activity for now. I went for a long time with that anxious waiting feeling, but things seem smoother now that I have a better hold on a productive agenda. Though the laundry is still waiting for me…
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) recently posted…COFFEE and Gluten Free Apple Spiced Donuts
I do tend to go by the clock a lot as well. I’m very type-A and a little OCD and like to have every little thing planned out, which drives my wife and friends nuts sometimes. There was a weekend recently that we didn’t have ANY plans and I had said oh well, we can do whatever, whenever and they were stunned. They thought I was ill. LOL
I can’t believe those views. I would never get sick of that!
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…Plateaus Belong In National Parks
Sometimes I don’t even know what day it is. Being a SAHM has put the time/day not needing to know in great perspective. I will say that I have had to add notifications in my phone for story time/play group days because I have definitely missed more than one since I thought it was Wednesday when it was really Tuesday ha.
Kelly @ Cupcake Kelly’s recently posted…Studio Poise: Week One
I definitely have the same problem. I am the queen of to-do lists, and I also thrive on a schedule. For a long time I’ve felt like I have to get everything done so that I can be the perfect wife, perfect employee, perfect everything to everyone. In the last year, I’ve done so much better at letting some of that small stuff go. When I realized that my husband didn’t love me any less because the dishes didn’t get done one night, it was incredibly liberating 😉
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…A Day In The Life