How do you...

[Bluetree]

...keep from going nuts?

Or rather, how do you balance work + training + social life and still maintain your equilibrium?
I've always been someone who works hard (ok, some people call me a workaholic) and maybe, perhaps, slightly... obsessive compulsive. But having a 60-70 hr. work week in addition to a triathlon training schedule is stretching me pretty thin.

It seems like if I want to do anything, something's gotta give. There's no wiggle room for anything. Do I want to have breakfast with mom? Okay, then I have to nix the housecleaning. Do I want to get my car washed? There goes the grocery shopping. Do I need to get my oil changed? OK, then I have to give up my ride, which will throw off my training schedule. My days are regimented to the hour, and every hourly "block" is reserved, planned, written down and accounted for, seven days a week. Lunch time is already gone (squeezing my swim drills in there, stuffing sandwiches down as I drive home) and dinner is pretty much eaten on my feet or on the road in between work-related errands. I'm usually an early riser, but lately I've been waking up at 3:00am, panicked that I've overslept.

I just want to crawl into bed and not come out for a couple of days. But no... I have my first USAT race in two weeks, a major project deadline in three weeks and an art show to prepare for in four weeks -- all of which I'm NOT prepared for. And last weekend a friend was visiting California, about 200 miles away, and I didn't go see him. Granted, he called me just a few days beforehand, but I REALLY REALLY wanted to see him... and I didn't. I kept my work commitments. How f-up is that?!

Sorry if I'm sounding so pissy, but I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

[Pika]

Bluetree- you somehow jumped into my life- somedays are exactly how you describe- always giving up one thing for another- one mis step throws off my whole day-
I missed my exercise yesterday because the time I alloted got used up for errands that I thought "will just take a min.." but by the time we were done - the window was gone and I was really ticked off the rest of the night! (poor dh, guess in hind sight it is not too much to ask to get gas in car, buy some groceries go to bank...except it ws my training time!!!)
On paper I know how to fix the prob but in practice not so much:
so I am just here to commiserate with you
Remember the key is balance
The fun stuff should always be fun, not seem like more chores.

[Grog]

You sound just like my sweet partner, aka the guy I'm going to marry in a few months!!!

This year, due to the intense stress of 3rd year med school, he's had to let go of triathlon training. He works/studies about 10-12 hours a day, not including call nights (24-hour shifts, once every fourth or fifth night), gets a bike ride here and there, but he can't crunch in swimming or running. He used to be a top age-grouper, and he's having a hard time getting out of "competition mode". He often gets pretty grumpy/frustrated about this.

I have no advice for you, but I don't think that's what you need, you probably just wanted to vent. However, if this was me - I'm a little more laid back perhaps, but it's all relative - I'd avoid feeling like everything becomes a chore. I don't think we humans can excel at all things, and our expectations should be set accordingly. But I'm such a slacker...

[KSH]

Hey girl... vent away!

I know for me... at some point... I just let something "give". For example, this past week, I missed my spin class. Oh well. It's OK.

Then on Sunday, I skipped running. Instead I slept till Noon and then I napped on the couch. I needed a lazy day.

Life goes on.

Sometimes you just have to say... screw it... and let it go.

Well, I hope things get a little better for you!

[Bluetree]

Thanks for the ear, gals.

Yeah, I tanked it last night. Slept 12 hours and blew off my brick this morning. Sometimes you just gotta say, "WTF."

[spokewench]

I'm glad you took a break - Blue -

Please be very careful with a schedule like that. You know being competitive is good, but at the expense of your health it is not. If you are that stressed and scheduled, it is not good for your health. Please think about this seriously.

And, 60-70 hours a week at work???? WTF???? This country is ridiculous! That is no way to live your life. Why do you work so much?