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Advice on managing time?
Semester just started up and that along with a new job I have been struggling with time management. I don't want to give up pole ever! I want to start getting in shape, eating better and using my pole to help me do so. Has anyone else been hit with busy times and has figured out how to work everything in?
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11 Replies
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Oh the busy times I have had!
Time management is not easy, but it's fairly do-able. Most people use something like a planner, if they prefer paper, or using their smart phones these days for keeping schedules all together. Having school and work at the same time is a really difficult thing to do, and when I was doing it, I found it really helpful to plug all my shifts and classes into my iPhone (which has become my brain, practically) so I don't forget them.
Otherwise, I would say that you should keep workout times around the same time every day. Our bodies like schedules and you'll find yourself actually craving the workout, food, work or anything else if it happens at the same time each day! Also try to keep your workout about 2 hours away from going to bed at night- you don't want to be high and raring to go off your workout and needing to go to sleep! You could even use that high feeling to your advantage, either putting it right before work, or homework!
Be sure to give yourself free time, hopefully every day. Don't schedule your whole day right down to the hour, because sometimes other things come up! What if you want to do some gaming, hang out with friends, or something else? Or what if you're blindsided by a project? (Hopefully not, if you keep things organized! I'm just learning this now!) At least an hour, hopefully two or three, each day would be really good.
Be sure to have rest days! Very important!
And really… it's sort of a personal process! Lots of people make their planners into a kind of creative project, where other people like it just for function. Some people love to check and double check their planners (like me!) and others only need to write it down to remember. Lots of people have different styles and ways of remembering what's going on!
And, if you're really bad with time, the way I am… you can also time how long it takes you to get home from work or school, or takes you to get between work and school, how long you like your workouts, and things like that. Then you get an accurate idea of how long things take, rather than thinking "Oh dear, I have an 8 hour shift today… I can't do ANYTHING else!" Which, frankly, is completely not true! And dancing on stressful days, or days where you feel awful after work, totally helps. I'm serious. Even if you feel awful and just want a nap!
And now I have to go and practice what I preach… >_>
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I usually try to work out in the morning that way I have it done. But I do know that it works best if you schedule time to work out/pole like you would any other commitment and then keep it.
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I’m having a hard time finding time for pole these days. I like to do cardio in the mornings at least 3 times a week, have started stretching twice a week. Then after work and homework with the kids I wright train with the hubby. It’s tough to fit pole in the specially since I have to warm up first or the pole is super slippery 🙁
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time management is tricky, but i am one of those people who work better the busier I am!
I'm currently completing a double law degree full time, as well as working part time, I blog, and then on top of that poling and exercising and seeing friends etc etc!
So my tips are…absolutely use a planner. Work out what suits you best, whether that's a diary or a calendar on your phone. i personally prefer using a diary that has a week to a view and then a monthly calendar at the front. That way I can see exactly what I have going on at all times. I also use a monthly planner instead of a calendar at home. So next to my desk I have the current month and the next month displayed, again with everything I have going on and then a weekly planner that I fill out each week underneath it. The weekly planner has times on it, and I use it to be more prescise and break up my days…so for e.g. Wednesdays I write that I have class from 3.30-5.30, and I will leave the house to travel to class at 1,30, so i know that between 1.30-3.30 i can do uni work on the train, and then from 5.30-7.30 i can watch some tv on my ipad on the train ride home (because scheduling down time is also really important!) I can then see that I have the whole morning spare, so will fit in a jog in the morning, and some housework.
I also do a little housework every single day, to keep it from building up and getting unmanageable.
I think the most important thing is to know what you're doing and what you have coming up at all times, especially when you're studying (so you don't miss important assessments / can prepare properly for exams!)
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Thank you all for your replies! I've recently been using a planner to keep school/training days for work separate. I'll definitely set aside time in writing for pole/exercise. Anyone have any meals/diets/whateveryoucallyourfoods that help with pole? I'm sure protein is a big part
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Do you have a pole set up in your living quarters? When I felt like I just needed to get away this summer, dance it out! Your favorite song of the moment is prolly no longer than 5 minutes long.
Sometimes it feels good to just drop your britches and do all the moves you know how to do well to your favorite song. 5 minutes of your time. Your muscles will thank you for it this semester 🙂 -
I thankfully do have a pole in my bedroom, and that is a veryyyy good idea. my biggest problem is that I have like 4+ days of no pole due to lack of good scheduling, busy stuff happening etc, and then my muscles are not as used to the pain/holds and it's discouraging to get used to again. Working on getting out of that cycle!
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xxhayleyxx, how about also getting a pull up bar for the door frame? I have one and I love it! When I feel like working out and don't have the time, I just do a couple of pull ups and chin ups! It takes less than a couple of minutes, and helps to keep strength up!
The pain that comes with holds will eventually go away, even if you're only poling once a week so don't worry too much with that! Even if you can schedule in only half an hour every two days at home on the pole, that is better than no time at all
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Thanks, that's good to know it goes away. I am so close to getting an invert that is actually decent; definitely going to try and schedule more than a half hour but I know every little bit counts. The pull up bar is a fantastic idea, I lack upper body strength still
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Yep, it definitely goes away! I remember leg hangs being so intensely painful, and now I can just hang out in them forever. While you're still a beginner / int there's not really a massive need to schedule in heaps of pole, so don't feel bad at all if you can only schedule in little bits here and there. You also want to make sure you don't train too hard, which can cause injuries. I find sometimes just doing 1/2 hour every night (or every 2nd night) really adds up over the week, as well as doing a class. I obviously would love to do more, but if I really can't fit it in, then it has to be about my priorities (another important aspect of time management!). As well as pull up bars, you could also just do short 'burst' workouts…there's heaps all across pinterest, but basically doing a couple of reps of push ups, planks, crunches. All will help with pole and strength building 🙂
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Thank you for this post!!! I usually come home exhausted and ready for bed at 5pm….and I'm just 27! I don't want to stay the couch potato I've become. Thanks for these tips!!! 🙂 xoxo
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