Out of 168 hours in a week, I spend my time on that?

My full-time job, career, or passion (as some, including me, often describe it), is running a successful outdoor boot camp operation. I'm also a certified personal trainer, running coach and nutrition guideline planner. For the most part, the general passer-by probably believes that I spend most of my day working out.

And it probably looks that way too. I wear my hair in a ponytail, I dress in fitness gear (because I love my fitness gear!), and chances are high you're going to find me on a field, in a gym, or on my way to train someone at all times of the day.

But I recently had a chance to learn how much time I'm actually spending on fitness for me, and it was shocking. I went through the exercise with my training team - we did it to find out how much time we allocated for certain tasks throughout the week. The week, as you know, is 168 hours...and here's how I spend mine:

• 30%   Marketing, sales, promotions, general management of the business
• 25%   Sleep
• 23%   Managing boot camp sessions, leading Run Team workouts
• 10%   Phone calls, conference calls and texting
• 8%     Personal training clients and nutrition guideline planning
• 4%     ME TIME (includes working out, family, cooking, friends etc…)

These results were absolutely appalling to me! As a professional trainer, I was blown away by the fact that I personally spend less than four percent of my time training myself. And even less than that, I spent on friends and family!

This exercise taught me something very important. My priorities are skewed!

But it taught me something else too (after I got over the initial shock). I needed to take a step back. I obviously needed to give something up. So I took three big steps to make it happen.

• I gave up training one of my clients.
• I made a date with myself to work out in lieu of training that client.
• I handed over some business responsibilities to another extremely qualified business partner.

What a relief! All of a sudden, with those three simple changes, I found time! That all-too precious commodity that we all wish we had more of - I got it back.

So, I urge you to take a look at your own plate. Are you over-consuming your work-load? Is there any way for you to give up a little to gain a lot (I don't mean weight here)? Is there a feisty intern, newbie in the office or business partner out there that's capable of taking on some of your to-do's?

Don’t feel like you are slacking, (well, unless you are), feel like you're taking your life back. We all know when our plate is too full. It’s time to pass on the seconds. Instead, push yourself away from the table of work, and go for a jog. You, and your body, will thank you later.

And I highly recommend you take the 168 hours assessment yourself. It'll open your eyes to how you spend your days, your weeks and your life.

For the past 10 years, Amy Mack has been coaching athletes of all ages in the art of running, speed, and agility - guiding them with her expertise in both fitness and health. Amy currently serves as the DFW Director of Camp Gladiator, voted the best boot camp in Texas by Competitor Magazine.