I am joining in with Angela and Jill in a Day in the Life linkup!
My days are really, really long, though there is a lot of variety and no two days are the same. Since I’m mostly writing this on Tuesday, I decided it would make a good sample day. I hope I don’t bore you in the process of telling you about it.
My alarm goes off at 3:25 am on Tuesdays. I give myself one 10 minute snooze then I’m up by 3:35. First and foremost..coffee. Alan and I spend about 20 minutes with our coffee in the morning. Then it’s time to take care of the animals. I feed the dogs, and indoor cats, clean the litter box, give Penny her eye medication (though hopefully for not much longer). I get dressed in running clothes, brush my teeth and hair. Then pack a bag with my work clothes, shampoo, make-up, etc. I’ll prepare a couple of running bottles for Alan and myself, pack my breakfast and lunch (if I have leftovers). Then we will take the dogs out for a walk.
Clockwise from top left: Coffee before turning on the kitchen light. There were more dogs on this walk, just too dark to see them (can you see Olivia on the top?). This is the gear I bring to work on Tuesday: purse, briefcase, lunch/breakfast, work clothes, make up, etc. It is 3:35 in the morning..check the temperature. Will summer EVER be over?
By 5:00, it is time to leave for cross country practice. Practice starts at 5:30 now that school is in session. I will usually run with the team. This morning I ran about 4 and a half miles. Then we finish up their practice with strides, stretching, instructions. By 7:00 it is time for me to head to work.
Clockwise from top left: It is really, really dark when we start practice. We don’t turn on the stadium lights because we’ll be heading out to run. This is at about mile 2.5. Just starting to get light. Posing in my new KindRunner Ambassador Shirt, in the locker room and on the track. The boys stretching out after their run.
I am the fitness director at a fitness center inside a country club in Rancho Mirage. My work schedule varies. Sometimes I’m in at 5:30 am to open, other days I come in a little later and close. On Tuesday I arrive about 7:15 and head to the shower. One of the advantages of working at a fitness center is access to showers, mirrors, and all the amenities. After getting dressed I eat my breakfast and I’m ready to go to work at 8:00.
Let’s take a little tour of my fitness center! Top row: Different angles in the ladies locker room. We do our own laundry, fortunately just towels and linens. One of our massage rooms.
Continuing the tour, clockwise from top left: One view of the fitness room. A view of the lobby. Another view of the fitness room. The view through my office window (notice Samuel on my desktop? Keeps me smiling all day!).
My first hour is spent taking care of the previous day’s paperwork and payroll. If I have time, I plan out my day, get ready for my 9:00 class, and get mentally ready for what the day will bring.
At 9:00 I have my Superball class! It is always one of the highlights of my day. I love the class and my students. It is basically a strength class based around stability balls, medicine balls, and dumbbells. Lots of fun.
My Ball Class! This picture was not taken today. Everybody is gone for the summer, and I didn’t get a photo of the two people who were in class this morning.
At 10:00 I have a personal training client. It is still the off season, so I only have a few people in town right now. Even during the season, I only see one or two clients a day. My main job is to run my fitness center, so that needs to be my focus.
Getting my reformer on with my potential new Pilates instructor.
I am in the process of hiring a few positions for the upcoming season, so between 11:00 and 1:00 I have a couple interviews scheduled. Today I have a Pilates instructor returning for her second interview, during which we will spend some time working on the reformer so that I can see her style, skill, and professionalism in action. On my really lucky days I get to do this same type of “practical” with a massage therapist or esthetician (one of my job’s perks), but not today. Take note in the pictures, I am wearing my pretty Swirlgear top. I am an Ambassador you know.
I may be in the fitness business, but I am by no means in Pilates shape!
At about 1:00 I’ll take lunch. If I don’t have leftovers with me, I run over to Clarks or even Native Foods to pick up something. Or if time is short…
Okay, I admit it. Sometimes I go the easy route.
At 1:30 my assistant leaves for the day, so at this time of the year I’m on my own. I’m working on my marketing plan for the upcoming year, employee reviews, monthly newsletter, and exercise schedule for October. During this time, I also answer the phone, schedule any massage appointments, answer questions from members, and help them out in any way that I can. I also have cleaning duties, wiping down the equipment, cutting lemons, dusting, etc.
Before you know it, it is 4:30 pm and time to start closing up. Washing the water containers, closing blinds, turning off the equipment and the lights. We close at 5:00 in the summer, and by that time the fitness center is usually empty. Time to go home.
I admit it, I’m an addict.
I have about a half hour drive to get home, during which time I plan my dinner. I also listen to an audiobook..I am an Audible.com addict! If I need to, I stop at one of the several stores that I frequent to pick up missing supplies, Trader Joes, Vons, Sprouts, or Fresh and Easy (which is sadly closing soon). I usually walk in the door between 5:45 and 6:00.
Seven faces that are happy that I’m home. (Alan has a happy face too, but I didn’t take his picture).
Once home, I greet my husband and dogs, chat for a while, then spend about an hour thinking/working on my blog. If my post is ready to go, I’ll answer comments, read other blogs, retweet a few posts, etc. Then it’s time to get dinner ready.
Just a teaser for a recipe I’ll have next week. Hint: It’s Jackfruit!
Alan and I have a deal. I cook, he cleans up after. I will usually have dinner on the table by about 7:30 or 7:45. My goal is to get it ready earlier, but it just doesn’t seem to happen. We’re done about 8:00, and while Alan takes care of the dishes, I spend some more time on my blog.
By 9:00 we’re both done. I head to bed, spend about a half hour with facebook, commenting on blogs, maybe a little Word with Friends. By 9:30, lights are out. Getting rested for another day.
Tell me a little about your day!