I struggled with “making time” for years.  I fought for years to re-wire my brain.  I could always find ways to stay busy while not really finding ways to stay productive.  I occupied too much time with non-productive hours.  For me it was TV watching (sports in particular), drinking beer, web-surfing and for a period of time, political conversations on social media.  I re-wired my brain when losing 92 pounds, while working from fat to fit.  The frequency of my re-wired brain increased significantly when I created a running streak of 506 days.  It ended with 2018’s car accident when my back was busted up by a drunk driver.  I’ve been in second streak since Nov 1, 2019, currently on day 487. 

I’m less than 3 weeks away from surpassing my previous streak, which only required 1 mile per day.  I’m shooting for 1,000 days with loftier expectations.  The new streak includes the daily minimum, but I must average 3.5 miles per day plus average 42 minutes of other fitness activities.  My average so far is 4.2 miles per day and 61 minutes of other fitness activities.  But this isn’t just about fitness accomplishments.  It never was. 

When I began running, I began setting goals.  I’ve always had multiple, concurrent goals since my first day as a runner.  Annual goals, miles per week, pace, etc.  I’m able to build focus through accomplishment because it trains my brain to prioritize.  I know what has to be done to hit the goal and I only let myself down as a last resort.  Through crushing goals, I’ve created confidence and discipline.  I know there isn’t TV or any time wasters in my day until my workout is done. 

But wait, check this out…I discovered I could do that with any personal goal.  My newly developed discipline has been handy when working through professional goals, marriage and parenting goals and feeling closer to God while spending more time in the Bible.  But it’s not just setting the goals; its putting goals above time wasters.  God has allowed me to use fitness to build daily discipline I might not ever found otherwise.  There wasn’t a magic pill or discovery in a self-help book.  Discipline did not occur by praying without taking action or by watching a Ted Talk.  If you want discipline, you must create it on your own.  Discipline is like a muscle.  You must feed it well and give it exercise.  Its fed through learning and self-reflection; it’s exercised through your toil.  And when you can do that, time wasters become so fruitless.  Sure, I love to relax and enjoy leisure time.  I need my downtime.  But I’ve found I wasn’t really too busy….I’ve always had time…I was just too busy wasting time. 

Go get it.