Beating the clock - time management

American Fitness, May-June, 1994 by Cindy Szubzda

I have a recurring dream in which I'm late for aerobics class. I rush frantically around the house with five minutes to get ready, rewinding tapes while searching for a clean leotard. My dream is based on reality, of course.

As an aerobics instructor, I know the importance of promptness. Beginning and ending classes on time is crucial. Students have schedules to meet. If a class is late, they're late, and if a class runs overtime it affects consecutive classes. Like any employee, aerobics instructors must maintain expected "office hours." Easier said than done for many overextended instructors who teach aerobics on top of a 40-hour work week.

When constant time pressure starts pervading your dreams, it's smart to begin time management strategies. These tips can be helpful.

* The Tape Tangle

Most good instructors try to vary their music, and therefore maintain an extensive tape library. This means lots of cassettes, and lots of rewinding.

Tapes seem to multiply like cockroaches until you find them under everything. Organize the little buggers in a cassette box and label them with pertinent, understandable information. Include type of aerobics (step, low-impact, etc.), season (Halloween, Christmas, etc.), music speed (i.e. 120-160 bpm) and a song list with titles and artists.

Get rid of any damaged tapes you're saving "just in case." Replace broken or missing tape boxes, and put your frequently used tapes at the front of your box.

Never file away unwound tapes. If possible, rewind your tapes after every class, not before. If the tape deck in the aerobics studio is used immediately by the next instructor, rewind your tapes on a portable tape deck or in your car.

* Talk, Talk, Talk

Many instructors get to the health club in time, but get delayed by social students and fellow teachers. Learn the art of tactful delay: "That sounds great--I can't wait to hear about it after class." Establish a post-class question and answer period, and encourage students to hold their comments till then. Try building in a social period during stretches and cool-downs when the music is quiet.

* Dress for Success

Leotards and tights tend to live in a messy drawer full of workout bras, socks, leg warmers, headbands and belts. Instead, store your leotards and tights in accessible shoe boxes or drawer organizers. Arrange them by color or category to make mixing and matching easier.

Never put away a damaged outfit. Be sure to repair it first so you don't find yourself pulling off garment after garment because of a hole or rip.

Finally, don't let dirty clothes build up, leading to the nothing-to-wear panic. And count your blessings lycra doesn't have to be ironed.

* Maximizing the Minutes

Always allow a 10- to 15-minute cushion for an unexpected traffic jam, broken shoelace, dead car battery or phone call as you're walking out the door. Better to arrive at the health club early than late.

In your time off, make every minute count. Combine day-to-day errands. If you have a cordless phone, use telephone time to do household chores. Prioritize your to-do lists by importance, and don't get sidetracked into trivial time-killers. But leave time out to "veg." The time out will renew your energy and perspective.