Time is the only thing that we can’t get back from the fast-paced world in which we live. From school, work, family, and trying to stay healthy, there never seems to be enough time in a day. As a full-time, full-load college student with a lot of other activities on my plate, how is it possible to find time to prep and compete?

It all boils down to a delicate balance routine between sleeping, training, eating, working, studying and playing, but not necessarily in that order. My time management has to be precise and calculated or I am not able to complete each daily task. I literally live out of my day planner on season, but during off-season I am a little more lenient. In this article I will give you tools and advice on how to manage your time as a student so that you can be more efficient and organized in order to accomplish your competition goals with ease.

Day Planners: The Key for Prioritizing and Organizing
You have picked the date for your competition and it is in the middle of the semester…now what?  Take a deep breath and relax because going to school, working and prepping for competition is possible! The first thing to do, though, is get a day planner. You’ll need to write each task down and at what times they need to be started and completed. This will alleviate the stress of trying to remember everything, and will also help you to prioritize your daily responsibilities.

The next thing to define and outline are the top priority elements that must be scheduled consistently every week. The first, and a definite must, is food preparation.

Healthy Meals and Supplements Made Easy
Pick one day out of the week (mine is Sunday) to prepare all of your protein and carbohydrates so that you can “pack and go” without having to cook every single day. Also, place your daily food diary on your refrigerator as a quick reference for food preparation. Non-food items you will need for your prepped meals include Tupperware, an oversized lunch box, ice packs to keep meals cold and medicine droppers!

Medicine droppers? Absolutely! They are an ingenious way to store your flax and fish oil while on the go. In doing so, you remove the need to transport the entire bottle; your daily dosage can quickly and efficiently be measured.

I also suggest locating a microwave on campus that is in the proximity of your classes. This will allow you to quickly heat your meals and still make your classes on time. When eating, try to schedule your meals between classes – approximately every 2.5 to 3 hours. However, if you absolutely must eat in class and your professors give you a hard time, explain to them the importance of regular, balanced meals as a fitness competitor in training. They will likely understand and appreciate your dedication and discipline. If you are a trainer, sometimes this can actually lead to their interest in training with you!

Making Time for Cardiovascular Training
Now that you no longer have an excuse for eating poorly, let’s discuss cardiovascular training. Plan to do your cardio in the morning and/or between classes if you have a time slot open. If you have a break in between classes, I have found it easiest to take care of training at these times – especially since most campuses have a wellness center or gym. By using your time between classes wisely, you free up time at the end of the day to do homework or study. Clearly, this is why time management is key.

If you are like me and don’t have class at the same time each day, it might be a wise investment to purchase cardio equipment for your home. I have an old, inexpensive Schwinn stationary bike. I often set my laptop on the handlebars and complete homework while doing my cardio – multi-tasking at its finest! For me, consistency is key, and I try to complete my cardio at roughly the same time daily in order to ensure I stay with my routine and am not rushed.

Consistent Rest Leads to Endurance
It’s always best to go to bed and wake up at the same time, even on the weekends. This will keep you on track both mentally and physically.

Things won’t always be easy though, and life catches up with you. During testing time and high stress days, if you miss a work out, cardio session, or cheat on your meals, don’t give up or be too hard on yourself. Remember, tomorrow is another day and all the gains you make toward your fitness goals are cumulative. If you remain consistent and say focused, you will be very successful in your preparation.

Find what works best for you and stick to that routine. It will all pay off in the end!

Suggestions that help with time management:

• MINUTE Ready to Serve Brown Rice (Easy Recipe: Combine the brown rice and Star-Kist Herb and Garlic tuna, heat and eat!)
• KC Masterpiece Honey Teriyaki marinade! Marinade thirty minutes or over night and bar-b-que or broil.
• If you can’t seem to get all your vegetables in, substitute with a super food such as Green Vibrance.