I try and work as efficiently as possible so that I maximize my time and give myself time to work on things besides the prep time of getting ready for the next day/few days. It takes a lot of planning and prepping and has been a big work in progress for the past year to year and a half but it has helped in the long run keep myself organized and honest with myself when I am not.
One strategy I have enjoyed is making a big batch of breakfast burritos and wrapping them in wax paper and aluminum foil and then freezing them. After a few times of making them I have gotten the cooking time to down under an hour for the whole project which yields me between 10 and 12 days of breakfast.
This has been a great energy and time saver for me so that I can spend time doing other things but make sure that I have good nutrition lined up for my next day of work.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
10 Minutes A Day
A new initiative of mine these past few weeks has to spend 10 minutes a day separate of my training session for the day dedicated on movement. More specifically low impact movement that will better help postural issues and improve timing and patterning of specific muscles.
These 10 minutes consist of stretching/mobility/yoga/breathing exercises/tai chi/flow/low level body weight exercises/whatever else you want to call it.
I have been able to start this habit and dedicate 10 minutes for about a week now. It has helped me be more relaxed and feel better in between my training sessions. I have even filmed a few of the sessions and watched part of them to see what posture I am actually in compared to my proprioception of the movement. Doing so has helped me realize how much trunk flexion I present with on a regular basis throughout movement patterns.
It is a work in progress and a long way from being a habit, but dedicating just 10 minutes a day on movement is helping me learn feel how to better move and better instruct.
These 10 minutes consist of stretching/mobility/yoga/breathing exercises/tai chi/flow/low level body weight exercises/whatever else you want to call it.
I have been able to start this habit and dedicate 10 minutes for about a week now. It has helped me be more relaxed and feel better in between my training sessions. I have even filmed a few of the sessions and watched part of them to see what posture I am actually in compared to my proprioception of the movement. Doing so has helped me realize how much trunk flexion I present with on a regular basis throughout movement patterns.
It is a work in progress and a long way from being a habit, but dedicating just 10 minutes a day on movement is helping me learn feel how to better move and better instruct.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
The Creativity Stiffled
Work, housework, training, reading, relationships, errands, time wasting etc.
All of these things get put first before creativity, before shipping, before putting myself out there, before taking on more, and more importantly before putting things into action.
Frankly, it is time to put things into action, develop the habit, and get creative.
It starts by starting.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
1 Year Ago
1 year ago (yesterday) I had surgery to repair my torn labrum in my left shoulder.
1 year ago (yesterday) I started healing and improving my situation instead of letting it control me. I had lived in denial of it for a long time and thought I could beat the system and avoid going under the knife. However, even with all of my experience and learning it still had to happen.
I view my surgery as a big turning point in my year. Before the surgery I was going through a rough time looking for work, always seemed to make excuses or say i couldn't do something, due to being in almost constant pain, and felt very limited. After surgery I could finally say "I can't do that... yet, but I will be able to soon." Six weeks with my dominant arm in a sling felt like a lifetime, and made my right arm quickly learn how to do the everyday tasks of life, but I did my time in the sling and was diligent in my rehab that I was cleared from the doctor at 12 weeks. With the improved attitude and outlook, I was able to find work and let my personality shine through again, making myself a better person to be around.
There were plenty of bumps in the road to getting my shoulder back to full strength and becoming pain free in the first year post surgery. But going through the experience has taught me how to exercise smarter, know when to push my limits,when to back off, and know when to be patient and let things take their course.
I still may not be able to do every exercise or activity that I want to yet.... But I will soon.
1 year ago (yesterday) I started healing and improving my situation instead of letting it control me. I had lived in denial of it for a long time and thought I could beat the system and avoid going under the knife. However, even with all of my experience and learning it still had to happen.
I view my surgery as a big turning point in my year. Before the surgery I was going through a rough time looking for work, always seemed to make excuses or say i couldn't do something, due to being in almost constant pain, and felt very limited. After surgery I could finally say "I can't do that... yet, but I will be able to soon." Six weeks with my dominant arm in a sling felt like a lifetime, and made my right arm quickly learn how to do the everyday tasks of life, but I did my time in the sling and was diligent in my rehab that I was cleared from the doctor at 12 weeks. With the improved attitude and outlook, I was able to find work and let my personality shine through again, making myself a better person to be around.
There were plenty of bumps in the road to getting my shoulder back to full strength and becoming pain free in the first year post surgery. But going through the experience has taught me how to exercise smarter, know when to push my limits,when to back off, and know when to be patient and let things take their course.
I still may not be able to do every exercise or activity that I want to yet.... But I will soon.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Reflections of a 24 yr old
Today I turn a quarter of a century old. The big 2-5. Officially closer to 30 than 20, and any other thing you can say about being in the smack dab middle of your 20s. With that, like last year I will reflect on some important things that happened to me as a 24 yr old.
- I realized I didn't like who I was and quit a job that was affecting my behavior outside of work
- I applied for lots of different jobs and cautiously said no, because they all weren't good fits.
- I started dealing with my unnecessary anxiety head on
- I had shoulder surgery
- I took a temporary customer service job and a fun 3 weeks and vowed to always be nice when I am on the other side of the phone
- I got a job in the fitness field that paid a decent salary and had benefits
- I started working with a population I had never worked with before.
- I got myself on my own financially
- I started to feel like a full human being again (two fully functioning shoulders)
- I got a text message out of the blue that has changed my life forever :)
- I learned to be myself in personal relationships
- I witnessed on of my favorite teams win a championship in person. WE WON THE CUP!!!!
- I got an offer for an opportunity that couldn't be passed up
- I fell in love (the real kind)
- I've become not afraid of the fallout
As you can see from the list above as I turned 24 life was at a rocky place, it only got worse but it made me tackle things head on and not just push them to the side. It was after that that I realized how good life could be and I can say that I am the happiest I have been in a long while. Here is to it continuing as I officially become an old man ;)
-DJB
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
No Job too Small
I have recently started a new job and am really enjoying it. There is a lot of interaction with the members and the staff and the atmosphere is great.
With any job there are little tedious things that need to be taken care of. These menial tasks often get swept to the side or not have much thought put into them due to more pressing matters. However I see these jobs a bit differently. My internship days taught me the value of taking pride in the jobs everyone else hates, or doesn't want to do. This has helped translate that into the working world and keeps the focus on the important things so the supervisor or manager doesn't have to be checking up to see if they get taken care of.
This also translates into personal life in that if you take time to actually listen to a person you care about, or clean up after yourself so someone doesn't have to remind you, or (for guys specifically, if you put the toilet seat down for your wife or girlfriend) then you can keep your mind clear of the little jobs that clutter it.
If you find yourself with a tedious task, take a second to take a deep breath, get a positive mindset, and look at the task a different way, you may find that can be therapeutic for you, and may even lead to a breakthrough on a meaningful project.
-DJB
With any job there are little tedious things that need to be taken care of. These menial tasks often get swept to the side or not have much thought put into them due to more pressing matters. However I see these jobs a bit differently. My internship days taught me the value of taking pride in the jobs everyone else hates, or doesn't want to do. This has helped translate that into the working world and keeps the focus on the important things so the supervisor or manager doesn't have to be checking up to see if they get taken care of.
This also translates into personal life in that if you take time to actually listen to a person you care about, or clean up after yourself so someone doesn't have to remind you, or (for guys specifically, if you put the toilet seat down for your wife or girlfriend) then you can keep your mind clear of the little jobs that clutter it.
If you find yourself with a tedious task, take a second to take a deep breath, get a positive mindset, and look at the task a different way, you may find that can be therapeutic for you, and may even lead to a breakthrough on a meaningful project.
-DJB
Friday, December 13, 2013
Reflections and Connections
December is the time of year where all sorts of different media outlets post and list their favorite items/events/people of 2013. My reflections on the year are a bit more private and may remain so ( I haven't decided yet). However another kind of reflection that I am doing this holiday season is connecting with people who I haven't kept up good contact with this past year.
I am lucky enough to have some time off during the holiday season. I have made a list of people, in no particular order, that I have thought about and realized we haven't talked in a while. Each day I will call and talk with them, or leave a voicemail if they don't answer. Yes CALL them, not text, email, tweet, or facebook message. The point is to make this personal and not something out of courtesy during the holidays.
If you have time during the holidays I would encourage you to do the same. I am excited to hear about how the people on my list are doing, and hopefully it propels us to not lose our renewed connection and builds stronger friendships and bonds because of it.
Happy Holidays,
DJB.
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