College Schedule - Finding Time to Train

I'm on the other side of the college-student desk. I'm the one with the red pen in my hand. Those of us with schedules that change from day to day actually have an advantage, I think.

Oh MAN! It SO does not get better. Not that I think your challenges aren't real; quite the contrary! I think we're all in the same boat. It's just that the particulars of what causes the boat to take on water vary from person to person.

I'm on the other side of the college-student desk. I'm the one with the red pen in my hand Those of us with schedules that change from day to day actually have an advantage, I think. We just have to think creatively. There's a pacing to your day and a pacing to your week and a pacing to your semester (or quarter or whatever). I know that late in the week is when I get busy. So I try to train really hard Sunday-Wednesday, because sometimes there is not an available minute on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. So I have to think a little proactively early in the week. Of course, your week is different -but only in the details. When might you work out, if the variables (like clean clothes, packed gym bag, etc....) were in place? Then be sure those variables ARE in place on the days you can ramp it up a bit.

But I also know that if I am going to be able to work out on Thursday-Saturday, there's a narrow window of opportunity. It's different on different days, but it exists if absolutely everything goes right. I try to think of what I can do to increase the possibility that things go right. Is there anything I can tweak? I'm not above closing my office door a bit early so that people won't just drop by to chat at inopportune times. Then maybe I can get out to the gym. Maybe.

I have several sets of clean workout clothes in my gym locker. So if I find myself close to the gym with 45 minutes to spare, then I sneak in for a workout. It won't be a great workout, but it'll be something.

I keep all my shower stuff there, too.

There's also a set of clothes and a swim bag that lives in the trunk of my car.

I almost always eat lunch at my desk, so I can justify taking my lunch hour to work out.

I work out with my husband whenever I can. He's not into triathlon training but we can still meet at the pool or ride bikes together or whatever..... Meet up with Amazing Girl at the gym or wherever you work out. (Speaking of which, I need to head to the pool to meet Amazing Guy pretty quick here.)

I bought a lot of video workouts and weights and I workout at home when there's no time to go anywhere.

And the last thing is that your semester has a pacing to it. When things inevitably go to hell in a handbasket at the end of the semester, don't sweat it. Just get back to work as soon as you can, and start from where you are.

Good luck!