I think this time budgeting approach is finally going to be what helps me actually start exercising consistently.

Start with the basic building block of all narrative.

In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

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I think this time budgeting approach is finally going to be what helps me actually start exercising consistently.

I’ve been <a href="/articles/blog-posts/i-applied-ynab-budgeting-to-my-time-and-its-changed-my-life/">budgeting my time with timers over the last several weeks</a>. One thing about this setup is that you create “buckets” of time, but don’t really dictate exactly when those buckets get emptied. This is a really useful thing because it makes it easy to experiment with when you do different things, and it allows you to on-the-fly make adjustments based on how your day is going.

I’ve been <a href="/articles/blog-posts/i-applied-ynab-budgeting-to-my-time-and-its-changed-my-life/">budgeting my time with timers over the last several weeks</a>. One thing about this setup is that you create “buckets” of time, but don’t really dictate exactly when those buckets get emptied. This is a really useful thing because it makes it easy to experiment with when you do different things, and it allows you to on-the-fly make adjustments based on how your day is going.

One such example, is I have had the time blocked out for weeks to exercise, but I kept trying to do the exercise in the morning. The thinking was I like to shower in the morning, so squeezing in the workout before that would make sure I am good and clean for my day. The issue? When I first wake up, my body naturally wants to work, and as a result I always ended up not wanting to exercise.

One such example, is I have had the time blocked out for weeks to exercise, but I kept trying to do the exercise in the morning. The thinking was I like to shower in the morning, so squeezing in the workout before that would make sure I am good and clean for my day. The issue? When I first wake up, my body naturally wants to work, and as a result I always ended up not wanting to exercise.

I’ve also noticed that my early to mid afternoon energy is consistently low, and I often feel that I needed “more time” between my morning and afternoon routines.

I’ve also noticed that my early to mid afternoon energy is consistently low, and I often feel that I needed “more time” between my morning and afternoon routines.

So I decided to try something new today - I decided to try working out as soon as my lunch break was over, and by golly I actually had the will to do it!

So I decided to try something new today - I decided to try working out as soon as my lunch break was over, and by golly I actually had the will to do it!

I went downstairs and did a guided rowing session, followed by a 15 minute cooldown stretch. Aside from the obvious benefit of actually exercising, I’m hoping that maybe it’ll give me a little jolt in the afternoon just because I am getting up and doing something active in the middle of my day.

I went downstairs and did a guided rowing session, followed by a 15 minute cooldown stretch. Aside from the obvious benefit of actually exercising, I’m hoping that maybe it’ll give me a little jolt in the afternoon just because I am getting up and doing something active in the middle of my day.

Crossing my fingers that it will help me keep my days a little more balanced.

Crossing my fingers that it will help me keep my days a little more balanced.

Small Adjustments

In-case you haven't heard me literally mention it in every post I write...I live in a camper. Like...with kids and stuff. They're loud. Like super loud. And as a result, Kate and I have become increasingly sensitive to noise in-general over the last few years of living in a camper. Or maybe it's literally just because we're just tired of noise in-general, and the fact that we live in a camper has absolutely nothing to-do with it. I don't even know anymore. Either way, <a href="/articles/essays/how-i-work-from-home-with-no-office-and-a-family/">I wrote a post a few years back about how I am able to concentrate while working inside an RV-based</a> office, and there's still a lot of truth there.

In-case you haven't heard me literally mention it in every post I write...I live in a camper. Like...with kids and stuff. They're loud. Like super loud. And as a result, Kate and I have become increasingly sensitive to noise in-general over the last few years of living in a camper. Or maybe it's literally just because we're just tired of noise in-general, and the fact that we live in a camper has absolutely nothing to-do with it. I don't even know anymore. Either way, <a href="/articles/essays/how-i-work-from-home-with-no-office-and-a-family/">I wrote a post a few years back about how I am able to concentrate while working inside an RV-based</a> office, and there's still a lot of truth there.

But there's one thing that I have notice that has changed since I wrote it - we have discovered the <a href="https://www.loopearplugs.com/">Loop earplugs</a>. (Not an affiliate, just a fan)

But there's one thing that I have notice that has changed since I wrote it - we have discovered the <a href="https://www.loopearplugs.com/">Loop earplugs</a>. (Not an affiliate, just a fan)

I know, I know, they're basically an earbud without the actual music part, but honestly they've become a staple in our home. Kate and I will just wear them sometimes for no reason. Like right now, my kids are asleep, Kate's quietly watching a video (with headphones on) and the only noise I can hear is the clacking of my keyboard, and yet I find myself wearing them because they just make it a little more quieter.

I know, I know, they're basically an earbud without the actual music part, but honestly they've become a staple in our home. Kate and I will just wear them sometimes for no reason. Like right now, my kids are asleep, Kate's quietly watching a video (with headphones on) and the only noise I can hear is the clacking of my keyboard, and yet I find myself wearing them because they just make it a little more quieter.

I'll wear these with noise-cancelling headphones on-top sometimes, just to add that extra oomph to isolating myself when the kids are being particularly loud. It's amazing.

I'll wear these with noise-cancelling headphones on-top sometimes, just to add that extra oomph to isolating myself when the kids are being particularly loud. It's amazing.

I've come to find that I really enjoy the "underwater" quality of sound when you're wearing ear plugs. It's nice to hear nothing but the gentle ringing in your ears.

I've come to find that I really enjoy the "underwater" quality of sound when you're wearing ear plugs. It's nice to hear nothing but the gentle ringing in your ears.

These little plugs have worked into our lives in ways I never considered when I first got them. We'll take them with us to places like the bowling alley we went to a couple weeks ago, where the music was just a bit too loud after a couple hours, or even just in the car to cut back on the car noise.

These little plugs have worked into our lives in ways I never considered when I first got them. We'll take them with us to places like the bowling alley we went to a couple weeks ago, where the music was just a bit too loud after a couple hours, or even just in the car to cut back on the car noise.

They come in a little travel case, and fit comfortably in my pocket, and with them there I find myself whipping them out a lot more often than I thought I would. It's kind-of addicting when you realize you can make your environment a little quieter at any time, but not so quiet that you can't hear people talking.

They come in a little travel case, and fit comfortably in my pocket, and with them there I find myself whipping them out a lot more often than I thought I would. It's kind-of addicting when you realize you can make your environment a little quieter at any time, but not so quiet that you can't hear people talking.

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Owner of Siren Affiliates. Digital Nomad of 4 years. I talk about WordPress, Entrepreneurship, &amp; RV life.