Finding Balance And Getting Organized

Happy Tuesday everyone! I’m currently slammed with work and experiencing major caffeine withdrawal thanks to giving up coffee for the week so I thought it best to let someone else write today’s post! 😉

I’m thrilled to have Miriam from Bellaspire contributing to Peanut Butter Runner. Miriam and I connected through a mutual acquaintance almost two years ago when my blog was just getting its start. We’ve kept in touch via Facebook and e-mail and now I get to keep up with her through her new blog, Bellaspire. Be sure to check it out and I have a feeling it will become a new favorite read for many of you! My favorite thing about Bellaspire is the variety of content and that the blog has two authors! Miriam and her friend Whitney both post to the blog.

Well, I’m off to get my booty kicked in CrossFit and then teach yoga. Enjoy the guest post. I’ll be back tomorrow morning with an update for ya!

Hi Peanut Butter Runner readers!! You don’t know how excited I am to be guest posting today! I was introduced to Jen’s blog almost 2 years ago and have been a faithful reader ever since!! Jen’s blog was the first “healthy living blog” I read and remains a favorite. Thanks to Jen’s inspiration my friend and I recently launched our own blog, Bellaspire. It’s been so fun to be on the other side of things, offering my own perspective on how I strive for beauty and balance in all aspects of life.

Speaking of balance, today I want to share my own thoughts on balance and organization! As a reader of this blog, chances are good that you are probably juggling work, school, and responsibilities with an effort to maintain a passion for food and fitness. Admittedly it can at times be overwhelming, but with the right perspective and good time management it is possible to have it all :).

There are hundreds of methods to staying organized and I have found the best method to be the sustainable one. If you’re following a program that requires you to clean out your tupperware drawer on day one, chances are that those minute tasks will eventually be pushed to the back burner and your plan will eventually fail. If you are reasonable and practical with your approach, it’s a heck of a lot easier to stay on task and get things done. Here is my own personal approach!

Step 1- Establish ONE organizing system

Personally, I have a day planner that serves as a central hub to everything I have going on. I used to use the notepad on my iPhone but found that I prefer good old fashioned paper and pencil. Pick an agenda with an appropriate layout and format to suit your needs. I love this planner that is super chic on the outside with weekly breakdowns and plenty of extra space in the back for lists and notes. Whatever system you chose, stick with just one!

Step 2- Set yourself up for a wonderful week

• Freestyle- I have found that I am most efficient and productive when I look at things a week at a time. At the beginning of every week I take out a blank sheet of paper and write my list of “to-do’s.” In no particular order I jot down every task or intention that comes to mind.
• Prioritize- Next to each task I write an “I” for immediate, “W” for this week, “M” for this month, and sometimes an “S” for someday.
• Assign- I find that it helps me to jot down my tasks on a day planner almost as if it’s an appointment. The key here is to keep things manageable and to avoid overdoing it. Take things one week at a time and assign your “I’s” and “W’s” to the upcoming week.

• Balance- It’s easy to get overwhelmed by “chores” and responsibilities. I always put my workouts on the calendar and going into the week I generally have a good idea of what workouts I’ll do on which days. This helps me to stay on track with my fitness goals so that I can head into the gym with a plan of attack :). Finally, be sure to include things on the calendar that feed your mind and contribute to your happiness. Allot time to read, time to spend with friends, and time to take a breather from all of the aforementioned responsibilities. This is just as important as getting things done!

Step 3- Relax

Last but not least, cut yourself some slack. Even though this post is geared towards getting things done in an organized and achievable manner, remember to be resilient when things don’t always go as planned. Having a game plan is great and sticking to a plan is even better. But perhaps the greatest challenge of all is the ability to bounce back and refocus when things go awry.

Hopefully I have provided you with some inspiration, motivation, and encouragement! It’s time to get things done 🙂 ! I hope you’ll friend us on Facebook, tweet us on Twitter, pin our pins and swing on by the blog to say hello! Thanks for reading and let me know how it goes!

What are your personal strategies for staying organized and finding balance?