I get a complementary facial every month. It’s basically an honorarium for being brand ambassador for my favourite company Pure and Simple, which involves sampling their latest products and offering feedback. Their new foundation, by the way? — OMG, TDF (to die for). Anyway, last month, September, I had NO FACIAL. Why? Because I didn’t have THE TIME.
This very thing — the fact that I didn’t have the time for my September facial — made me realize I desperately need to simplify my life. “GLARGH,” I realized, “I don’t even have time for my monthly facial! My free facial! And if I don’t have time for my once-monthly facial, I sure as HELL don’t have time to go to the gym.”
That’s what I surmised. So….
I quit the gym….
Yes, the other day I went to the gym all ready to workout for the first time there in FOUR MONTHS. But, my heart was IN MY BELLY. It’d been there for hours. I was dreading walking my arse through that door again, dropping the sad Monkey off at daycare, and shaking it to another high-speed AC DC song. GAH!
So, I canceled my daycare spot and b-lined it to the membership office.
“Are you sure you want to quit, Haley? I feel like we’ve done this a dozen times already,” the membership salesperson said.
“I know. We have. At least a dozen times. But, I quit. I can’t make it here. And Monkey doesn’t want to go to the daycare.”
“Well, you could do the reduced rate: 4 visits a month for $9.”
“Nope. Can’t.” I stated bluntly, thinking I CAN’T EVEN GET TO MY FREE FACIAL.
As the stress of HAVING to go to the gym gracefully fell away (as soon as I signed the cancellation papers), I knew I had to QUIT MORE THINGS.
I have yet to figure out what those things are.
Needless to say, I will NOT be joining Facebook. I don’t have the time! And if I DID have the time, I’d fill it with a KRUMP class instead — because holy Tara-Jean on So You Think You Can Dance Canada tonight. Awesome.
Heather said, October 6th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
It’s so hard to decide what to let go. Good for you for taking the first step!
FPIESmommy said, October 6th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Good for you. Quitting the gym is on my list of things to do this month (I am just trying to find the time to get there to do it)….I am running with a group (while hubby looks after A) and doing pilates once a week and I have a hard enough time dragging my arse to those planned times….too much to do and definately not enough time to do it. Someone said to me today “I would love to press pause on the world for just a few hours so that I wouldn’t miss anything and I could just get things done”….and I thought “how perfect – sign me up!”. Hence….I haven’t written a post since last Thursday, I am up at 1:00 and still need to shower, but I really should go to bed….gahhh. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day with even more things to do.
You inspire me to minimize and simplify.
Nenette said, October 7th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Good for you, girlfriend! It’s important to know when you’re doing too much and to put on the brakes if need be. You’ll find other ways to get your body moving. I’m sure of it.
I’ve been trying to simplify since returning from my camping trip, and it’s been such a slow process trying to decide what to drop and what to keep.
I’ll be blogging about it eventually.
BTW, smart idea not joining FB. It’s a total time suck. But somehow, it’s one of the things I’ve decided to keep…
.-= Nenette´s last blog ..Blogoversary Day 2: A Look Back =-.
Laura said, October 7th, 2009 at 6:35 am
ohhhhhh I don’t agree with any of those people….. the gym is a good thing, your health and your quest to be healthy should be of absolute importance!!!! that hour you might spend on the elliptical or in a class is crucial to your physical and mental well being, where else can you work off your stress, sweat off your frustration, lose yourself for an hour of some mad pumping iron, it brings balance to the rest of your crazy day. More energy, stronger bones and muscles to prevent the onset of our later complications especially for a vegan- you need to make sure your body is strong…. and awwww noooo the monkey doesn’t like the daycare…. so????? since when do our children run us??? if we let them, I don’t know how many times Gio has flipped out on the drive to the gym, on the way in and as I walked away….5 minutes later playing happily….. Haley, you need the gym, you need to make time for the gym…. as a fellow fitness instructor you should know how much you need that time……..
Cheaty said, October 7th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I need that time, totally, but I just don’t have it. It makes more sense for me to workout at home when Rascal naps and Monkey’s at school. That Monkey doesn’t like the daycare is important to me – it’s not pleasant in there and not what I want for her. I don’t blame her for not liking it at all. And she’s doing enough right now that she “doesn’t like”…. I AM making time for my weekly yoga class. It was that or the gym, really. And I’m walking a ton to and from the kids’ schools. There’s a lot people can do to stay fit outside the gym, as you know. This makes much more sense for me and my current lifestyle!
Laural said, October 7th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Good for you for quitting. I had to cut back with my trainer and that was hard.
I would never quit the gym because for me it’s sanity. But, I know there are other things in my life I should quit.
Anyway … I SO want to take a dance class. Maybe not krump. But, something because I watch SYTYCD and I wish I had 1% of their talent.
.-= Laural´s last blog ..Sleep … I need it =-.
Chantal said, October 7th, 2009 at 8:59 am
I am sure this is a hard transitional time for you but it makes sense. You started work but didn’t change the other things your life. Now you are adjusting priorities and moving things around. It is all good. And hopefully it will help get you balanced.
.-= Chantal´s last blog ..the harvest =-.
kgirl said, October 7th, 2009 at 8:59 am
I also quit the gym purely for time reasons (as in, I have none), and started running at lunch instead. Which I hate. More than the gym. Staying in shape is a lose-lose for me.
.-= kgirl´s last blog ..Top Ten Tuesday: I Love PVR =-.
LAVENDULA said, October 7th, 2009 at 9:25 am
yes its hard to make time but missing your facial? i hope you can squeeze in time for this months.i have never had one but i can imagine how relaxing they must be.and its hard trying to decide what to keep and what not to keep doing.as for the gym if you are motivated enough then you don’t need to go because you can fit in fitness in other ways but for me the gym is neccessary i love strength training but hate cardio and my personal instuctor has told me that i need to do more to lose last 20 damn pounds of jumbo muffin top.!now if someone could hire me a maid i’d have lots of time for me!xo
Renee said, October 7th, 2009 at 9:50 am
YAY for you! I’m glad you made a decision about Facebook…the right decision I think. (even though I’m on it)
and as for the gym thing – you have to do what works best for you and like you said it is easier to workout at home. So do that and don’t feel guilty.
.-= Renee´s last blog ..the update… or I’m such a sloth! =-.
Chris said, October 7th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I am inexplicably addicted to facebook. I wish I had your willpower.
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Need =-.
Marie-Christine said, October 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
NO Facebook for you
)
Haha, I totally understand though, it can get pretty time consuming!
Do you have ideas about other things you could quit? Did you list your priorities? I just hope the other things you will cut are not things that you do for yourself (like… free facials?) You should definitely keep those (and add a few if possible
Mom On The Run said, October 7th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
That’s awesome! I wish I could quit my “gym” but the roads are always open staring at me from my window reminding me that I don’t have time to run. It’s like that old adage: KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid – there realy is something to be said about that. But whatever you do – DON’T QUIT BLOGGING! We love you
Mmmm’k thanks!
Visit me @ http://www.momontherun.net
.-= Mom On The Run´s last blog ..Hammering Out A Blog Post On My iPod Because I’m That Angry! =-.
Teena in Toronto said, October 7th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Time is so precious … you have to use it wisely.
.-= Teena in Toronto´s last blog ..Professional pix =-.
Dina said, October 7th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I totally get you not wanting to leave the Monkey at the daycare. I do not think that means she runs you.
I am sorry you will not be joining facebook though!
.-= Dina´s last blog ..Threadless Tshirt Giveaway at jaypeeonline.net =-.
The Pressure | Cheaty Monkey said, October 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am
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