Fit for Life: It’s Time for YOU

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Matt Espeut, GoLocalProv Health +Lifestyle Contributor

 

View Larger +

Matt Espeut

I had stuff to do the other day that didn't get done. Why? I could say I didn't have the time, but that's a lie. I had the same 24 hours that everyone else did. It didn't get done because I went mountain biking instead. You see, I had plenty of time I just chose to spend it in the woods instead of putting away all my supplies and a few other things I had to do. To me,  clearing my head in the woods on a beautiful day (thought up a few workouts along the way)  and getting some HIIT training was a more important investment of my time (although I can't do this everyday) than dealing with cleaning supplies, and installing a rack to hang equipment, which was on my to-do list, originally. Don’t get me wrong, the important business stuff still got done, but the less important things had to wait. So when someone asks me “hey, did you do this or that today?”,  I never respond with, “no I didn’t have time”, instead I reply, “nope, never got to it today, had other things I had to do first”. In other words, if something is important enough to you, you will allot the time to do it and if it’s not, you won’t. You will make an excuse.

This is why I hate it when someone says that they don’t have the time to get in a workout, or prepare their healthy meals for the day. What you are basically saying is that your health, weight, appearance, energy levels, and self esteem are not important enough for you to schedule the time to take care of yourself. The “I don’t have the time to exercise” excuse is null and void, especially when I have a program at facility that lets you get in an incredible workout in just 30 minutes, and I supply a simple, easy to follow, nutrition plan with every program. So don’t tell me you don’t have the time. Have you ever not picked up your child from school, or an activity because you didn’t have the time? Of course not. Have you ever skipped brushing your teeth in the morning because you were running late? I hope not. You will always get these things done, because they are important to you, and you schedule or delegate the time to get them done.  If you say you don’t have the time to do something important like working out, and eating healthy then you shouldn’t be spending ANY time watching TV, socializing over coffee, surfing Facebook, on strolling the mall or some department store. But people are doing these things without, or instead of,  getting in their workouts or preparing their meals for the next day. They had the time, they just chose to spend it unproductively.

Time is our most valuable asset, as well as our most unforgiving one. You can’t borrow or buy more, or go into debt with it. Time doesn’t accept credit cards. You can’t put it in the bank and save it. You can’t rewind it. And you can’t do anything to slow it down. So my question to you is: why would you waste something that is so precious and limited? Let’s face it, at some point in our lives we are going to waste a little here and there, because we can’t be productive every second of the day, and everyone needs some vacation time to unwind and re-group, as well as some extra sleep in the mornings, but being inefficient and not getting important tasks done in the course of your day, is a pure waste that nobody can afford.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Put on your oxygen mask first.

We live in turbulent times, where everything needs to be done yesterday, and everyone wants instant results, but inefficiency always seems to prevail, and we run around 100mph, but never seem to get enough done. Why is this? It’s because of lack of preparation. The good news is that this is pretty easy to fix. No, we can’t add more hours to the day, but we can be efficient with the time we have, and the best way to do this is to prioritize and organize the time we have. I hear clients say that they utilize their time taking care of everyone else in their family, but never have time for themselves, and ultimately, they let themselves take a back seat and neglect their own well being by missing workouts etc. I agree that family should be high on the priority list, but it is not selfish for you to put yourself up there too. When you get on the plane and they go over the safety procedures, the pilot always tells you to put your own oxygen mask on first, before you help someone else. This also holds true with your health. If you don’t take care of yourself, how much use are you to your family if you are sick, and out of shape? Not only are you setting a bad example for your kids, but it is likely you will become a burden to them if you need their care when you get older, because you didn’t live a healthy lifestyle while you were younger. Another priority often stated is that you’re busy making money, which I agree is very important, but what enjoyment are you going to get in the long run if you are too sick, arthritic or out of shape to enjoy it?

Folks we can still do all the important things in our lives, AND take care of ourselves too. You just need to prioritize, prepare, and schedule the things that mean the most to you. If you do not do this, you will be rather aimlessly running around being unproductive, inefficient and continue to waste valuable time, which nobody can afford to do. Unlike money, which can come and go, when time goes, it’s gone forever, so make the most of what you have – and put YOU on the top of that to-do list.

View Larger +

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"

 

Related Articles

 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook