I did it this morning. I had my alarm set for 5:10 a.m. so I could meet my friends on the trails for a run at 5:50, but I didn’t wake up until one of them called at 6:05 to see if I was on my way. Translation: I screwed up my morning and caused a delay in theirs. I hate it when I do that.

It doesn’t happen a lot, but it’s happening more than I like. I think I need to admit that I need more sleep than I used to. I don’t do well on five or six hours. I need eight or sometimes nine. When did I become such an old lady? Is that even what’s happening?

The grump factor kicks into high gear for me when I miss my morning workout because my afternoons are unreliable. Or maybe more accurately, I am unreliable in the afternoons. Like today, can I get my run and spin done  during the work day or after work but before I meet my friend for dinner? That would mean leaving work no later than 4:30, which I have the flexibility to do, but can I make myself go? It’s hard for me to walk away from work when there’s a lot to do, and right now, I have a lot to do.

Still, working out is me taking care of me. So this afternoon, come 4:00 p.m., I need to be winding down, so I can head to the gym. (It’ll be too damn hot to do anything outside.)  How can I make that happen?

1. Don’t shower this morning. I won’t love being unclean, so I’ll get myself to the gym at some point, maybe even earlier in the day if I’m uncomfortable enough.
2. Eat lunch at my desk instead of going out. That buys me at least forty-five minutes of time.
3. Set my watch alarm to 4:00 p.m. so that I am reminded of what I intended to do.

That’s my strategy for the day. Let’s see how it goes.

Update: In addition to what I mentioned above, I made a point of going to work in workout clothes so that I’d be forced to get the workout done. After all, I couldn’t spend a whole day at the office in workout clothes, could I? It worked. I got to the gym around 11:30 and did what I needed to do.