What Training Looks Like in a Busy Week
Most weeks, my training happens somewhere between clients, commuting, work, and taking care of everything at home. Sometimes I have a solid window to get a workout in. Other days, I’m looking at my schedule trying to figure out where it’s going to fit.
And being a trainer doesn’t mean I always feel motivated to train myself. I get tired. I want to stay home. Sometimes I’ve spent the morning coaching other people, and getting myself back into workout mode takes a little convincing.
That’s why I try to start the week with a plan.
I look at my clients, my other work shifts, and the things I already have committed to. Then I figure out where my workouts can realistically go. A lift between morning and evening clients. A run during an open afternoon. Boxing when I have enough time to get to the gym and back.
Putting those workouts into my calendar helps keep me accountable. It gives training a place in my day instead of leaving it to whenever I happen to feel like doing it. Because honestly, if I waited until I had extra time and plenty of energy, I would miss a lot of workouts.
But once the week starts, things change.
A shift runs later than expected. A client moves their session. I don’t sleep as much as I planned. The window I thought I had gets smaller, or I get to it feeling completely different than I expected.
I’m learning to adjust the workout when that happens.
Last week, I did my Monday workout with a two-mile run, boxed on Tuesday, combined two of my planned lifting sessions into one day, and did my speed run on another day. I’ve been keeping up with lifting about two to three times a week, but I haven’t been getting my long runs in consistently. That’s something I want to find a better place for in my schedule.
It’s easy to look at the missing long run and feel frustrated. I also want to give myself an honest picture of the training I did do, so I can figure out what needs adjusting.
Sometimes I need to get started even though I don’t feel like it. There are days when getting dressed, going downstairs, and warming up is enough to help me settle into the workout.
Other days, I need to change the plan. Getting it done might mean an easier run, lighter weights, fewer exercises, or a completely different session. And when I’m truly exhausted, I need to leave room for rest.
The accountability is in checking in with myself and making that decision honestly.
I still care about getting stronger, building endurance, and making progress. I’m trying to create a routine I can keep showing up for alongside the rest of my life.
Right now, that means planning at the beginning of the week, giving my workouts a place in my schedule, and being willing to adjust when I get there. Some weeks I’ll fit in more than others. I want to keep learning from those weeks and make the next one a little easier to navigate.
