It doesn't look like that in the picture

It's gym day!

Leave work earlier than usual.
Count every extra minute spent in traffic.
Run from the car to the bedroom shedding clothes while searching for a workout outfit.
Put on workout outfit while yelling to husband to fill water bottle and find car keys.
Run to car.
Run back to kitchen to get water bottle.
Run back to car.
Circle gym parking lot looking for a space.
Look for gym pass in usual area of purse.
Realize purse is still on the kitchen counter at home.
Make up today's story about why you don't have a gym pass.
Run back to car to get water bottle.
Run to locker room to drop stuff.
Run to fitness room and squeeze into a space as class starts.
Work out.
Go home and collapse.
Repeat at least 3X per week.

One of the biggest barriers to exercise for everyone is lack of available time. That's been my number one excuse for years. When I made the decision to change my life, I knew it would mean giving up time that I normally reserve for catching up at work, doing laundry, buying groceries and generally organizing my life. In an attempt to fit everything in, I've read all the hints about how to change your schedule and habits to achieve a healthier lifestyle:

• Get up a half hour early to make your lunch and pack snacks for work.  I just can't force my head off the pillow at 5 a.m.
• Use a half hour at night to perform above activities. I get home from the gym at 8:30, check email and catch up on work to make up for leaving a little early. I eat dinner. I check in with the husband and kid for 5-10 minutes. Now it's 10:30. I'm exhausted.
• Spend Sunday preparing food. Or, after a morning workout, spend Sunday catching up on work, cleaning the bathroom, running errands and buying groceries. 
• Always put your gym card in the same place. This assumes that you always put your purse in the same place. 

My vision of making the gym a habit included a naturally together persona I've always associated with "the gym people." My reality is that I'm more disorganized and stretched than ever. 

In the big picture, I know the trade offs are worth it. I give up a few hours a week to get a few extra golden years. I get that. For now, I ask for a bit of patience as I drag my frazzled butt to the gym, dropping keys and forgetting appointments along the way.

Also, please give me a heads up if you happen to notice that I have absentmindedly left the house without pants.