Time Flies by Angi Jackson

Where does the time go? I hear this sentiment more often than not when I talk to my friends who compete. Time is a precious commodity. Whether you aspire to compete on a state, regional, national, or professional level, effective time management may mean the difference between doing okay and doing great at your competition! I've learned that time management is not a natural ability for a lot of people, but one that is learned with discipline over time.

Time flies. Are you prepared to keep up with it? I created an acronym based on “TIME” to help you prepare for your next (or first) competition.

T- Think about your goal. The first thing to do is determine what it is you want to do and when you want to do it. When I first started competing, my goal was to enter the state fitness competition and not make a fool of myself! Happily, I didn't make a fool of myself and actually won! By setting a goal, I was able to focus on the smaller goals, which kept me going in the right direction. Without a clearly defined goal it will be difficult to achieve the results you desire.

I- Identify your commitments. Determine your current commitments and decide if the time is right for you to pursue a competition. If you're preparing for a fitness competition you may decide that the money spent to have a routine choreographed is worth the extra time you'll have to focus on other things. Most of the women I've met have full time jobs outside of the fitness arena so it’s important to structure your time around your current obligations.

M- Manage your time. This is probably the most difficult aspect to control. Pick and choose your battles. If you feel overwhelmed with fitting everything in, it may be beneficial for you to keep a time tracking log for a week or two. You would be surprised at how much time you can save by making minor adjustments to your current schedule. When preparing for my last competition I was having trouble practicing my routine when the room at my gym was available. By going in to work a little earlier I was able to practice my routine during lunch when the room was open. Small adjustments mean big payoffs for your sanity!

E- Evaluate and adjust. Keeping your big goal in mind, evaluate and adjust your smaller goals accordingly. If you get off course, you can quickly adjust and redirect. When dieting for a show, I send pictures weekly to my nutritionist. This helps them to assess and make necessary adjustments. If I didn't do this I may end up too soft or too lean and miss my target.

Finally, keep this in mind: “To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then hold to that action till the goal is reached. The key is action.” Remember that it’s not the destination that's as important as the journey getting there.

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