Fitting It All In | Balancing Life & Riding

Being an adult is something most of us look forward to from the time we're kids. We say things like, "I can't wait to grow up!" with visions of doing whatever we want whenever we want. 

Then reality hits. Yes, technically you can do whatever you want, but not necessarily whenever you want. Jobs, family and everything else life can throw at us gets in the way. And that includes getting in the way of riding -- as much as we'd like to. 

It's hard balancing everything, I know. I've got a busy schedule of 'work,' a marriage, fur babies and riding to fit in the days of the week. How do I manage to fit everything in all while keeping my sanity? (hint: barn days and quality time with my hubby are my sanity!)

​Get a glimpse into a typical week for me and what each day may entail.

When I got back into riding about five years ago, I rode once per week. I had the typical Saturday lesson and that was it. Then the riding bug bit me again...and bit hard. I then leased a horse and rode three days a week -- twice after work and Saturdays. My commute from work to the barn was about 40 minutes and I always had to play the game of trying to beat time of day -- whether that be the typical daily summer thunderstorm or the dreaded getting dark at 6pm fiasco of Daylight Savings Time. A real bummer if your barn doesn't have an indoor or lighted arena. 

Now that I own I make time to be at the barn 4-5 days per week. I'm thankful that my barn is half way between my office and my house so I don't have to spend as much time in the car. 

What do I do for work? Well, I technically have three jobs. I work full time (M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with a half hour lunch) as a Marketing Manager for a new home construction company, I have the AdultAmmyStrong business I run solo, and I'm also an assistant editor for another blog website.

Here's my typical weekly schedule. I say typical, because things can always change. Between my two dogs, three jobs, Navy husband and horse, sometimes it's a free for all.

Monday
Work my 'day job' til 4:30 p.m. Get home by 5:30 p.m.
Rest day. Or so I like to call it. Which after-work hours eventually turn into cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry or any other mundane task I don't get done on the weekends because I'm at the barn or soaking up as much quality time with my hubby as I can.

Tuesday
Work my 'day job' til 4:30 p.m. Get home by 5:30 p.m.
Wild card day. Tuesdays are always up in the air. I usually use Tuesday as a make up day for something I didn't get done the other days of the week. I also use Tuesday night to sit in front of my computer editing and scheduling blog posts as well as brainstorming new post ideas and catching up with other bloggers. And I TRY to remember to pack everything for the barn tomorrow after work. 

Wednesday
Work my 'day job' til 4:30 p.m. Get home by 7/7:30 p.m.
Pony Time! Waking up as early as I do (I live a solid 45 minutes to an hour from my office) I have to make sure I pack riding clothes, boots and anything else I need to take to the barn. I TRY to remember to pack everything for the barn but with as quick as my brain jumps from one thing to the next, sometimes that doesn't happen and I end up throwing things in my bag right before leaving the house. I leave work at 4:30 p.m. and head to the barn which thankfully is only about a 20 minute drive away. I love leaving at 4:30 because I miss the rush hour traffic. I get to the barn no later than 5, fuss over Wow for a little, groom and feed him a few peppermints (his favorite!), then get ready to ride. During the week we stick to flat work, which has made me a stronger rider. Our rides are typically about 30 minutes or so. We work on bending, flexing, transitions -- all that fun stuff.  During the warmer months, I hose and hand graze until he's mostly dry, fly spray and turn him out for the night. Get home, eat something and chillax until I fall asleep on the couch. What? That's how I know it's bed time.

Thursday
Work my 'day job' til 4:30 p.m. Get home by 5:30 p.m.
Blogging day. Well...mostly. I try to do a lot of my blogging work on Thursdays, but sometimes things get in the way. Or sometimes I don't want to sit in front of a computer at home after being at work all day. #AdultProblems. Anyway, if I'm finding it difficult to work from the computer I'll use paper & pen to brainstorm ideas for posts, a contest or giveaway, blog series or questions for a featured rider post. I'll usually work on the blogs until about 9 p.m. or so - with dinner usually somewhere in there. And sometimes I eat popcorn at 9:30 because I've forgotten to plan dinner. Such is life! Do I remember to pack for the barn tomorrow? 50/50 chance.

Friday
​Work my 'day job' til 4:30 p.m. Get home by 7/7:30 p.m.
Pony Time and "Date Night" [when the hubby is home]
Friday mornings are a lot like Wednesday mornings -- trying to make sure all is packed for the barn after work. Typically it's not, but I manage to *usually* always have what I need for the barn. Again, I get to the barn by 5 p.m. and fuss over the cutest TB ever then more flat work. I've really noticed a difference in Wow in the six or so weeks I've owned him He's really working from behind, getting more comfortable and understanding with the whole riding into the bridle concept. I just love him. Anyway...I get home usually by 7 p.m., shower and time for dinner. Our typical "date night" is a stay-in date night. Because the hubby is gone a lot for work, he enjoys staying home and I'm more than happy to have him home. We'll eat, have a few drinks and sit and talk. I love the nights we sit up all night talking about anything and everything. 

*work week confession*
I'm always on social media...not only for my day job as a Marketing Manager, but also for AdultAmmyStrong [yes, even at work]. I post, like, comment, share, retweet, etc. It comes naturally and to have a good brand you need to engage your audience - not just with your posts, but interacting with them on theirs. 

My brain is constantly working. If I get inspiration for an idea (which can literally come from anywhere), I'll either quickly post a draft or jot down some notes on paper so I don't lose the idea/concept for the piece.

I try to work on blogs most nights, but being in front of a computer from 8-4:30 then coming home and booting up again is rough. I occasionally will work on blogs during the day on my lunch break so I can avoid too much computer time at home. 

Saturday
BARN DAY! I leave my house no later than 7 a.m. and get to the barn by 7:30. I'm in the first lesson group of the day at 8. Each week the jumps have moved for a new course or grid, depending on what shows are coming up on the schedule. I'll ride from 8-9 then untack, sometimes bathe, and spend time cleaning tack, hand grazing and other smaller tasks around the barn. After I'm done with all my stuff I'll walk back up to the ring to watch another lesson or two before heading home. If the hubby is home we'll head out to the beach for some fun in the sun. If the hubby isn't home I'll spend more of the day at the barn and work on blogs. Being at the barn, talking with other boarders and my trainers provides a lot of creative juice for posts. Some Saturday nights we'll head out with some friends or we'll do a movie marathon at home. 

Sunday
​BARN DAY! Sunday is the only day during the week I don't have an alarm wake me up. That's not to say I don't get up early, I just have a different kind of alarm -- dogs! They usually won't let us sleep past 7 and 7:30 is a miracle. I take Sunday slow. We'll make a nice breakfast, enjoy coffee on the balcony with the beach breeze blowing...just soaking it all in. I'll head to the barn before 10 usually and am there for a few hours. I ride, clean tack, reorganize my trunk, etc., etc. I'll get home before 3 and will have the rest of the afternoon to work on more blogging projects -- scheduling posts, editing drafts, sizing feature images and connecting with other bloggers. Every so often we have 'family dinner' at a friend's house. It's a fun evening getting together with close friends.

My day-to-day life is hectic, no doubt about that. It's not perfect and the pieces don't alway fit into place. But, I make it work with what I have because I work hard for what I have. I'm not given anything. I work hard and I enjoy the time I spend at the barn, with my horse, and with my husband. Yes, while I'd like less office time and more barn time (who wouldn't?), life...a good life...is all about balance and I do what I can to have as balanced of a life as I can. 

Happy riding,