Hi friends! I know it’s been a while! Between school, training, coaching, and the internship, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed! But that’s actually what I’m posting about today: focus and the grind.

If any of you knew me a few years ago when I was in undergrad, you’d know that I collapsed in tears under pressure. So much of my undergraduate experience was spent completing assignments days and weeks in advance because I couldn’t function under pressure. Which is insane because I spend most of my summer course handing papers in with hours and minutes to spare. But back then, the moment I was overwhelmed, the tears flowed and I was a blubbering mess. Well, if any of you guys are like this, I have wonderful news for you: you can change, you can grow. Because, hey, I did!

March 2016 to May 2016 were probably the most stressful months of my life. I did not cry, but I did survive and looking back, I’m not sure how. But then again, I know exactly how: I had/have an incredible support system.

Let me tell you about this spring semester. At the end of this past fall, I decided that I was going to graduate with my Master’s early. I had no excuses not to: I was only coaching and training. So, after completing my winter class, I decided it was a glorious idea to take four classes in the spring. Three on campus and one online. It was brilliant. I’d take one summer class and have almost two whole months without school before fall began again.

In theory, it was a great idea. Between my winter class, the extra spring class, and summer, I’d only need a full three course load in the fall to graduate in December. Now, I’m thrilled to only have three classes before graduation, but looking back, it was so damn hard and I was so burnt out after USAW nationals.

Oh yeah, nationals. In January, I didn’t think I’d end up in the top ten of the nation for weightlifting. Nationals were a thought, but until I qualified in February, they weren’t a serious goal. So, when picking classes, I didn’t know I’d have that on my plate as well. I wouldn’t have had it any other way!

So there I was taking four grad classes, coaching, training about 20 hours a week, and interning at Monmouth University. Oh man, was I overwhelmed. But I’m still here and I’m just fine. If I was hanging out, being my former self, a few things probably would’ve happened: I would’ve dropped my online class. Because it was the devil. I only survived thanks to one of my dear friends and life savior: Marielle (BTW she created my logo, my tanks for nationals, and the kick ass website). This angel helped me with all of my technology projects, staying up late on week nights and giving up Fridays to help me pass. So, when I say I have the best support system, I’m not kidding.

Secondly: I probably wouldn’t have placed 4th at nationals. A few years ago, whenever I sat down to do homework or lift, I’d have been thinking about all the things I had to do next, but thanks to Rob (as usual, he’s usually right.), and fast reads like The Art of Mental Training, I made it through. I learned how to sit down and get my work done, only focusing on my work for that allotted amount of time rather than thinking about training and whether or not I was going to have the cash to pay for nationals. For the first time in my life, I took it one day at a time, trying my best to focus on what I was doing to make the most out of the little time I had. When I trained, I focused on training, when I was doing school work, I was focused on that. I did my best to completely immerse myself in whatever I was working towards.

It was, by far, the most stressful time in my life, and I didn’t shed a single tear from being overwhelmed, and that, my friends, may be the biggest victory of all. No, I didn’t maintain my 4.0 this last semester, but it is pretty damn close. Instead, I was able to juggle all the things I was working towards, while still maintaining my grades and performance in the gym. I think there’s a bigger win there.

Looking back, I can’t believe the way I’ve grown to handle stress. I’m still not great, but I’ve come a long way.

So here’s some quick tips for time management, some of them, I utilized in the past few months, and a bunch of them I’m still trying to work on because there’s ALWAYS room for improvement. SO, when I hear, “I don’t have time for the gym.” I’m going to call bull shit. I’ll tell you why in one of these tips.

Time Management Tips!

1. Make a daily plan, either in your head, or on paper if you like to cross things off. I did this often with my school work, and I do it in the gym with my lifting journal (yes, I write all my lifting things in a journal); however, I have to work on doing this with my entire days.
2. Give yourself time limits. It’s safe to say that I don’t do this at the gym, but I did this often this past spring. If I was writing a paper or reading, I’d give myself however many hours I had to complete my work. I’m currently working on doing that in the gym, because if it were up to me, I’d train all day.
3. Learn to say “NO.” Before this past semester, I rarely said no as I thought I was wonder woman and I had all the time in the world. When I realized that if I wanted to succeed in the things most important to me, I often had to say no to other things that I wanted to do outside of my big picture goals.
4. The above coincides with priorities, which takes me to #4. Get your priorities straight. If you have your goals straight, usually your priorities are too. So priorities were no longer drinking on the weekends or going to happy hour. My friends who understood, thank you. And those who didn’t, I’m not sorry. I accomplished a lot of things over the last few months and I’m not sorry for all the hard work I put in. Get your shit straight. It’s never I don’t have time. It’s I don’t want to or it’s not a priority to me. And that’s fine. The gym or school doesn’t have to be everyone’s priority, but they’re mine, so now, I say NO to things for both of my priorities.
5. Lastly, FOCUS. If you’re trying to multi-task, just don’t. Certain times are for certain things. I learned that if I focus the allotted time on my specific task, rather than worrying about what had to be done later, I was much more efficient. Because let’s be real, worrying about my homework while lifting isn’t going to change the fact that I still have homework. Cross those bridges when you come to them.

I’m not saying I’m a time management master, because I’M DEFINITELY NOT. I’ve just improved a bit since my good old Stockton days and maybe one or two of these will help my friends. Because I like helping my friends!

So the next time you decide you don’t have time, take a second, and get your priorities straight, and remember, it’s all going to be ok if you have faith in yourself.