Priorities

Work has been insane.  Ask my husband.  Ask my dog.  I’m part of a project team that is “going live” with a company-wide system upgrade this week, so there is an end to the madness.  But over the last few weeks, it has meant a lot of extra hours working, including being on call through the weekends, evening conference calls, and some key “to do’s” during midnight hours.  It also means I’ve had to get creative with my time management.

I haven’t been perfect – I’ve been late with birthday wishes and the dust bunnies are busy multiplying.  What I have not done is let my running – my outlet – fall to the wayside.  Nope, won’t do it!  I think what’s helped me dig my heels in on this is the fact that I’ve committed to run my first ultra in the Fall and the fact is, I have to put the miles in.  No two ways about it.  As important, if not more, is the calmness I feel when I run.  Making sure my run gets on the schedule also reassures me I still have some control during such a crazy work timeframe.

So what’s my secret?  Nothing special honestly.  I’ve dubbed it a priority.  I grab the time when I can, whether early morning before my work day begins or lunch time runs that enable me to “step off the world” and recharge.  The challenge for me is that I am most definitely NOT a morning person.  But the alternative of skipping a run is worse. 

My other challenge is Bella.  She’s a 4 year old Lab who lives to play, run, chase, and hunt.  With an 8 mile scheduled run this morning, I opted for 6.5 on the roads (solo), with a brief stop at home to pick up Bella and headed back out for a 2 mile trail run.  I got my run in, Bella got her run in (no leash, yeah!), and I was home, showered, and dialing into my 8am call by 7:59.  Sweet.

I’m excited to see our project go live, but boy oh boy, I’m also ready to revert back to “normal work Lisa".  But these last few weeks have reminded me that there really is time to fit it all in.  It’s all about what I deem a priority and what I can’t live without.  Dust bunnies, have at it!