Are you in control?

I’ve been exhausted the past few weeks, and I finally took it under control. This exhaustion was a combination of long days, early mornings, and poor sleep. Usually a combination of these, but not all, three. However, the past few weeks it had been all three. A few extra hours at work, a client needs an extra session, another client needs an earlier session, the car needs an oil change…on and on it goes.

I’ve always told others, all I need is an hour in the gym and eight in the bed; the rest are “yours”. Who “yours” is referring to varies; clients, friends, professors, employers. The question is, when do you sacrifice, and what do you sacrifice? Should I sleep less? Exercise less? Work less? Over those few weeks, as things got a bit more hectic, during the periods of mindless activity I considered, pondered, ruminated, and marinated over the problem.

What should drop by the wayside? It wasn’t until a recent conversation that it struck me…nothing should drop by the wayside. We don’t need to choose, shorten, or forget. We need to prioritize. A common use of prioritize is to put everything on a list from important to unimportant and check off these items starting at the top. But, “prioritize” doesn’t need to be important versus unimportant; how about dependent and independent?

The ability to work hard for long hours is dependent on high energy levels. High energy levels are dependent on a good night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep is (in part) dependent on your fitness level. The one, independent factor in all of this is clean eating. This entire cycle starts with clean eating.

In truth and reality even the cleanest diet can’t make up for only four hours in the sack. But it can help. Clean eating will provide your body with the necessary energy to sustain intense work, intense exercise, and an intense life.

My diet was already clean, but I needed to make some adjustments. I moved some things around, depending on the needs of the day, to assure my energy needs were met. On the days I worked out late in the afternoon, I ate more carbohydrates in the early afternoon. On the shorter, rest days, I ate heavy to light; finishing my day with a lighter meal. By the second day I felt better, more energized at the right times.

I’d still love a nap. Hell, I wake up wanting a nap. No matter what happens in my life, I’ll always welcome a good nap. And not that “whoops, I fell asleep on the couch” or “uh oh, dozed off waiting at a red light” nap. I mean the high quality, under the covers, shades drawn; all is quiet, “I’ve been planning this ALL day” nap…yeah, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

So, like I said...I’d been exhausted these past few weeks, until just recently. How will you take control?

--BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main-Line In Home Personal Training, Yoga, Nutrition and Corporate Health and Wellness