Time is the Best Gift

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It is hard to believe that the first month of the new year is already coming to an end…. Time truly flies!  When I look back at the month, it was filled with fun days spent with the family, mostly doing things that make us smile.  Kaya’s 6th birthday definitely topped it all and I was reminded, one MORE time, that the time flies…. I still remember the day, at the hospital, waiting for his arrival.  Then came the hourly nursing sessions at night for 20 months.  Now, he is learning how to read and write, and it is yet another great chapter with him.  

Kaya’s birthday celebration at tahoe

Kaya’s birthday celebration at tahoe

Yes, time flies…. I believe that the key is to focus on the things you like while it is going by.  Therefore, “time” is actually the best gift that you can give to yourself OR to others. :)  What unnecessary thing that you can eliminate from your day so that you can spend your time doing something you like?

It is a typical Sunday in our household where Derek and I are trying our best to get the house stuff done - cleaning, fixing, cooking, etc… The kids are mostly on their own.  Earlier in the morning, Ela came up, right when I was cleaning the kitchen, and told me that she would like to paint with me.  I looked at all the dishes then thought about one of my earlier blogs about the importance of “5 minutes”.  I decided to give myself the gift of time to spend those precious minutes with Ela.  The kitchen was cleaned a little later, when Ela wanted to move on to a separate game that didn’t involve me. :)  

Now with all that said about time, where do you place “getting/staying fit”? 

  1. Necessary (so there is always time for it)

  2. Necessary but hard to find time for

  3. Unnecessary (so easy to eliminate)

I am jealous if you picked option a.  And if you picked option c, let’s chat. :) For me, it is certainly b.  No matter how organized I am about my schedule, it is always challenging to carve out 15 minutes to strength train.  That being said, I have realized if I create routines that I look forward to then it is actually easier to make time for those 15 minutes.  I have my favorite tools - weights, rollers, household items from our Train and Smile sessions, etc.  I have my favorite moves - jumping, lifting, standing, etc. I have my favorite muscles - legs, glutes, arms, etc.  With all of that, I have my routines…. Some of my routines ONLY include my favorites and other include just one move/muscle/tool that I don’t like as much.  That way, during tough days, I can pick my “favorite” routine and during good days, I can challenge myself with a routine that might include moves to push me.

Here is a quick example:

  1. Jumping jacks (for 30 seconds - make sure you hear your hands clap over your head)

  2. Criss/cross leg jumps (for 30 seconds - like a ballerina switching feet fast while keeping your hands at shoulder height and parallel to the ground)

  3. Scissor jumps (15 second on each leg - make sure to keep a perfect lunge position)

  • Do 1-3, take a one minute break, continue for 2 more sets

  1. Upright row to overhead push with a dumbbell (10 counts - during upright row, make sure to being elbows over shoulders)

  2. Alternating Hammer Curl (10 counts)

  • Do 4-5, take a one minute break, continue for 2 more sets

  1. Elbow plank hold (30 second hold)

  2. Side elbow plank hip pulses (15 second on each side - if the balancing is challenging, drop your upper leg FORWARD)

  • Do 6-7, take a 30 second rest, continue for 1 more set

I hope you will enjoy this routine as much as I do!  Give yourself the time to at least try it out.  If you have kids, just have them join you. :)

Big high five to you all for making the time to read my blog!