Pros of a Time Priority Workout

A good chunk of our WODs fall into one of two categories: task priority and time priority.  Last week we had a bias of task priority. Task priority workouts are when the total work is set with the time it takes to complete determined by you. In time priority workouts, the time is fixed, with the total amount of work completed is determined by you.

While we can achieve very similar results with both, their differences allow us to have different approaches.

This week’s time priority bias will set the time but what happens inside those bells is on you.  A favorable thing about a time priority workout is that you know it’ll end…you know exactly when it’ll end.

Knowing this, we can go into it challenging ourselves a bit more either from an intensity aspect or skill aspect. Maybe you’re not that consistent with double unders, but you can get 5-10 at a time sometimes?  Great, go for them. You’ll still be working hard the whole time. In a time priority workout not only are you still getting a great metabolic stimulus, but you can be building skill at the same time.

Time priority workouts allow us to be “saved by the bell”. This can assist in encouraging you to scale up. Just a little personal background for the purpose of this topic:

When I first started doing CrossFit, a task priority workout made me the most nervous. I wanted to try some of the more challenging things but would shy away, worried I would hold up class and other people’s time…

But I also knew I needed (and wanted!) to start slowly stepping out of my comfort zone and towards weights, movements, and skills I was excited to try. Test the waters per se.

That’s when I decided that on time priority workouts (AMRAPs) where I knew I would be “saved by the bell”, I would scale myself up. If I consistently worked out with 25’s then I would go for the 30’s. If I was typically doing pull ups then I would go for the chest 2 bar. I held this mindset (and still do actually) and leaned into these workouts as ample practice. Although, I may not have gotten all the rounds and reps as others, I found a lot of growth. I did get stronger, more efficient with skills, and far more confident in my abilities. I developed an understanding of what I could lift or what I could do, how many reps, and how long it would take me. I was able to better tailor AND progress my workouts to my needs and desires but most importantly grow at the pace best for me. Ultimately, task priority workouts started to become less daunting too! I had more confidence and was even better about not over scaling my workouts. Ya know, growth.

I am only one person and what worked for me won’t work for everyone but if this tidbit piece of advice from my mere experience helps frame your approach this week in a good way, then I’ll take it!

Think about using this conditioning bias to your benefit this week and try stepping out of your comfort zone, even just a little!