Hi there! My name is Maria Abbe and I’m the creator of RunningMyselfTogether, a blog on faith, running, and mental health. I’m a certified running coach and lead the run club, ARC Running. I’m pretty outgoing, so my schedule is usually jam-packed with fun activities. I love being around people! But I truly value my quiet time. I spend time each morning and night in prayer and reflecting on life, either through reading the Bible or a good book. I also love running and working out. It frees my mind and fills my body with all of those great endorphins. Because I’m so busy, keeping a steady routine helps me accomplish the things that have been placed on my heart and produce good, quality work, while maintaining strong relationships with loved ones.
HOW I WORK
I think of my work in two separate segments. I have my day job work and my RunningMyselfTogether work. During my day job, I work in an office where I’ve purposefully placed a plant, additional lighting, and an oil diffuser to make my workplace as peaceful as possible. I work in PR and Social Media, and must do all I can to keep my brain fresh with creative, new ideas while staying stress-free.
For my RunningMyselfTogether work, you can find me at my little desk in my room, at the kitchen table, or at a coffee shop. I like having a variety of options, because the majority of RunningMyselfTogether is writing, and sometimes a change in scenery helps get the writing juices flowing.
To stay organized, I have a planner where you’ll find my goals for the month, my goals for the week, and my daily responsibilities/to-dos for my day job and RunnningMyselfTogether. I also have my calendar on my phone so I know where to be when, but ultimately, my planner is my one source of truth. I have a separate notebook for my day job and one for RunningMyselfTogether where I capture thoughts, ideas, and to-do lists. I’ve tried using apps and online platforms to stay organized, and what I’ve found the most useful is having a Google Drive with separate folders for each piece of my business and personal life. If I need something, I always know where I can find it.
During my day job, I have an amazing team of folks I work with day in and day out. They push me to be a better person in every way, and I am blessed to work for a company who cares about me as a human being. It sure makes me feel empowered to tackle other goals in my life.
In RunningMyselfTogether I write all of the content (except guest posts), handle all of the logistics and background work, and am the only running coach. It’s a lot! But it’s worth it.
RunningMyselfTogether is a place you can go to when you’re feeling lonely. There are blog posts on a wide range of topics, geared towards running, faith, and mental health. There’s a run club you can attend to meet others in the Charlotte community (hopefully, we’ll have them across the country someday). And you can work with me one on one to help you achieve your running goals.
HABITS & ROUTINES
My alarm goes off at a different time every morning, depending on if my workout is a morning or evening workout. But it typically goes off between 4:45 – 6 AM. I wake up and say a little prayer, check my phone, and hop in the shower or head to my workout. Then, I’ll make breakfast and listen to a soul-enriching podcast while getting ready for the day. Before I leave, I pray, journal, and reflect on the day and set an intention for the day. During my commute, I listen to music (usually my Christian music playlist) and I use that time to think through all of the areas God has blessed me in my life. Which means I usually end up crying with joy and walk into my day job with tear stained cheeks, but they’re happy tears. 😊
When I get into work, I plan out my day using Cal Newport’s method of time-blocking. Because I usually have a long to-do list, I choose three things I must finish and then schedule out the rest of my day. I find this method extremely helpful when it comes to focusing. Because I’ve mapped out when I’m going to get everything else done, I can focus on the task at hand.
I usually listen to music while working. Sometimes it’s pump-up, sometimes it’s quiet and more chill. I love Pretty Lights when it comes to focusing. You can follow me on Spotify to check out what I’m listening to!
On the way home, I either call my boyfriend or roll down the windows and listen to some more music – usually something that will get me pumped up for whatever I have planned in the evening… even if it’s only cooking and cleaning.
LIFE BALANCE
Upon returning home, depending on what I have planned, I usually eat a snack, scroll through social media and check messages. Then I’ll get done whatever I had planned. To truly relax, though, I’ll cook while drinking some wine, watch a good show with my roommate, hang out with my boyfriend, or most importantly, spend time praying and reading. I struggled with relaxation for a long time, thinking that I always had to be on and be working. I’m slowly understanding that spending time with my loved ones helps me be more creative and confident in my work. Taking the pressure off myself has shown me that I can still produce good work while living a full, fun, and happy life. So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to take that vacation, here it is. 😊
Thank you, Maria, for hanging out with us today and giving us some (much needed) encouragement on how to balance all the things! You can follow Maria’s blog HERE, and be sure to keep up with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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