The common questions I receive from readers is usually one of two things: 1) How did I get started? and 2) How do you balance your work, workout and social life?
It’s hard, that’s for sure. Creating time for all of those things is often a challenge and sometimes things have to be eliminated. Living a busy life is a blessing and a curse: it keeps me from sitting on my couch on the weekends and stuffing my face from boredom AND it can be exhausting trying to fit everything in.
Obviously, work is essential. I have to pay my bills. I spend my 8 hours a day at work and I get creative with my time. I use my breaks and lunch hours to do things I enjoy like going for walks in nice weather (extra exercise) or I read a book, or work on writing MY book. Finding an hour here and there is often just enough time to do something fun and decompress before heading back to work. Time management helps a lot.
The second most important thing in my life is two-fold: my fitness and my boyfriend Michael. He’s an important part of my life and I need to make time for our relationship. It helps a lot that we like to cook together and that we like to do ACTIVE things together (like biking, hiking or snowshoeing). Doing fitness together on the weekends helps keep us connected and I get my exercise in.
Michael and Me
My friends are pretty understanding of what my workout schedule is like and are accommodating. And honestly, a lot of my friends are super busy too and they plan their social activities far in advance as well.
I prioritize fitness and plan my SOCIAL life around it. Sure, that might not sound like as much fun but I always fit both things in. It just might not be an immediate gratification kind of thing. My life is pretty structured–even the fun stuff is scheduled into my calender. So last minute “Hey want to grab a drink tonight?” kind of plans sometimes don’t happen often.
Girl Time!
I make plans with my friends on a routine basis. I’ll get a pedicure with my friend Star about once a month or every other month and we frequently get together for a homemade dinner (her place or ours). My friend Robyn and I liked to meet each other at the gym and workout together. She’s way into fitness too so that helps! Two birds, one stone!
Robyn and Me
My other friends — Anna, Kat, Ember, Sam, and several others are good happy hour friends. It’s fun to meet up for some one on one girl time. Then of course, Michael and I have couple friends that we see together. The couple “date nights” are often game nights, homemade pizza night, movie nights, happy hours, or in the summer time–group hikes!
Some things had to go by the wayside. I rarely take the time to do things like watch TV or paint my nails. I definitely watch more Netflix during the ugly winter time, but as a whole TV is less of a priority. When I take the time to sit down and read, I usually have help. 🙂
I prioritize the things in my life because it all has value. I need down time with friends. I need down time with Michael and the kitties. I also need time to myself (the gym is great for that).
QUESTION: What are your priorities? How do you balance your social life with everything else?
Roz@weightingfor50
So agree Lisa, it is a fine balance between social lives and indulgences. My husband and I have a pretty robust social life (we are very blessed with wonderful friends). I refuse to change that just because I’m on a journey to lose weight, so we often entertain at our place if dinners are involved (because I can control the menu), workout on days I know we’ll be going out, portion control and just relax and enjoy. I’ve lost over 30 lbs, have about the same to go, and its a slow steady process, but I’ll get there, and enjoy the time along the way.
Lisa Eirene
That is a GREAT comment! Hosting dinner parties where you are in control of the menu and can make it healthy. I love that idea. We do that too. We often have friends over for game nights (cheap) and homemade pizza (healthier).
I appreciate all of my friends who are supportive and make time to see me. So far we’ve been able to keep it pretty steady and often. I tend to rotate weeks and friends so that I have something fun planned once a week. For example, this weekend I’m seeing Star, the next week I have plans with another friend, the following week I have two dinners planned and then I have a friend coming to visit from out of town. I get to “spread the love around” and see all my friends! And my workouts don’t suffer.
Sara
Lately I’ve managed to balance friends, work, fitness, and fiance time well mainly because he travels out of town for work during the week. So since I know I can’t see him I plan time with my girl friends or do something with my parents or even alone during the week. I workout at lunch time most days to keep a few evenings free and also plan a few days when I’m busy during the evenings, too, like going horseback riding so I’m not sitting at home all the time. It gives me just enough flexibility for a few days of spontaneous planning but keeps me busy enough days so I don’t get bored or eat out too many times a week. I am thankful I have many friends who either eat healthy, too, or don’t mind that I eat dinner before I come over. Then on the weekends I spend time with my fiance before he heads back out of town. The times he is in town, I feel like I have more flexibility with friends on the weekends vs the week.
Lisa Eirene
Working out at lunch time helps a lot. When I was running at lunchtime I had 4 nights a week free to do fun stuff with friends. It was awesome! I definitely miss it.
Jodi @ Jodi, Fat or Not
I’ve been terrible at balancing my social life with losing weight. Most of my friends like to go out to eat and I’d rather just cook for myself so I know it’s healthy. As I get closer to my goal, I’m going to work on more of a balance, but for now I’d rather have less of a social life and be healthier. On the weekends I try to get my friends to go on hikes or walks with me so I’m exercising and hanging out at the same time.
Lisa Eirene
I hear you. I was less social when I was trying to lose the weight. I didn’t want to eat out because I didn’t know how many calories was in restaurant food. I think I have a healthier balance now as I maintain the weight, and you will get there too. It just takes time and trust in our bodies.
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic
It can be a challenge to balance everything. The number one thing I’ve done to help myself fit in both a social life and regular exercise is to start working out in the mornings before work. I get up at 5am, drive to the gym at work, workout, shower there, and start work around 8am. I get home around 5:30pm, and the rest of the evening is mine. I can definitely go out with friends on a weeknight, or take a night off, or cook a nice dinner, or hang with my husband. I really couldn’t do those things when I worked out in the evenings. I do, however, have to cut some things short since I need to go to bed early to have energy for my morning workouts. I think you do have sacrifice something, but it’s best in the end.
Lisa Eirene
That’s perfect, Laura! When I ran during my lunch hour, I had soooo much free time it wasn’t even funny. I could do stuff with my boyfriend, make plans with friends more often. It was so great!