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May 17th, 2009 | Posted in Technical Writing 12 Comments »
This past week I started exercising at lunch—it was the best thing I did all week. Given how sedentary the job of technical writing is, you’d think this would be a no brainer. But in fact, it’s not. My company’s gym is rarely used. I see just two or three people (out of hundreds) in there during lunch.
While working out, I also listen to podcasts. Lately I’d gotten a bit out of the podcast-listening habit, since I was carpooling with someone who didn’t like to take lunch but instead work eight hours straight. After I switched to the bus for transportation (a new bus route opened up in my city), I’ve been able to embrace a more flexible schedule.
Now that I’ve been exercising at lunch, I’ve noticed that I have a lot more energy in the afternoons. I’m not a big exercise guru by any means. I mostly run a little, lift a little, and jump up and down on a small ledge (in an effort to someday dunk a basketball). But the break refreshes my mind, gives me a change of pace, and allows me to feel alive again (unlike the numbness that sets in from sitting in an office chair all day).
This lunchtime hour provides me the only practical time for working out, because when I get home in the evenings, it’s so much harder to go for a run with three kids, a wife, dinner, and exhaustion. In contrast, after working for about four hours, I’m ready for a break, and running on a treadmill doesn’t look so bad.
If you have an opportunity to work out at lunch, definitely do it. Working out also gives you a perfect opportunity to listen to podcasts. In fact, I can’t imagine working out without a podcast. It would be like driving a car without a radio—doable, but not very fun.
Tags: energy, exercise, finding time, lunch, podcasts, working out
I couldn’t agree more. Exercise at any time of the day, even doing a short 10 minutes up/down the stairs can turn things around both physically and mentally.
Great tip!
We have a nearby track, just across the street. I walk around it briskly at lunch. I do so whenever it is not a chilly 50 degrees out, blustery, and rainy. This is mid-May, right?
Craig, those walks at lunch are a great routine. I used to walk around a wildlife sanctuary/pond near my work (when I was in Florida). It was perfect. In fact, one later commenter on this thread, Kyle, works where I used to work in Florida. Kyle, try walking around Lake Carillon a few times at lunch. It’s pretty amazing, even if it is hot and humid.
Today it is a rainy 56 degrees, and it is almost June. Rather bleak, really. I am now going around the track twice, weather permitting.
And for those who live close enough to their office, consider bike commuting. I try to bike in several days a week and feel better for it. I’m less tense during the day and can actually concentrate better. And the ride home in the afternoon is a great way to unload the day before transitioning to family time.
Ron, I would really like to start biking to work, but it’s going to be a 15 mile commute as soon as my work relocates (right now it would be a 40 miles commute). Do you think 15 miles is really feasible to bike? I’m guessing it’s not, but who knows.
That would all depend on your general condition, routes available and the time for the commute. But if I were you, I would not hesitate to develop a good route using Google maps. Look for good surface roads, hopefully with bike lanes. Stay off highways.
My round trip bike commute is 15 miles. And I routinely take rides in the 15/20 mile range, just for fun.
I leave several changes of clothes at my office and change when I get there. Hopefully, your new location has a room when you can change.
Look at it this way, it you start doing this, others might follow and you can start a bike commuting revolution.
Cheers,
Ron
Commuting by bike? Around here? The Philly suburbs? You take your life in your hands. People blow through stop signs. Red lights are taken as suggestions only. Far too dangerous.
Excercising is a good way to spend your break. I would rather sleep during mine, but the only place I can do that is in my car… If only they had some sound-proof rooms where associates can take a power nap, productivity would increase I think.
Kyle, I remember going out to my car a couple of times to sleep at lunch, but I always fear people will see me slumped over and think I’m in need of medical help or something. Plus, it gets quite hot out there.
One paradox about exercising is that although it seems to require a lot of energy at the moment, it also gives you a lot of energy later.
Lol, yeah you don’t want to be woken up by an ambulance.
It can give you a boost if you don’t exert yourself too much. In the mornings I like to take the stairs and see if I can beat the elevator to the 6th floor. It’s a good way to get my heart rate up, especially since I gave up caffiene.
One of the best things you can do overall. This job of ours – sitting in front of a computer all day (or worse, sitting in meetings) can make you very lazy – both physically and mentally. I work out every work day except for Friday, and go for a long run on Saturday morning with my wife.
It’s kind of ironic: I work for a company that’s involved in the health care industry and we have a lot of “healthy initiatives” – free blood work, free mamograms, weight loss and quitting smoking programs, even healthy snacks in the vending machines. However, we don’t have an exercise facility on-site, or even a shower, so working out at lunchtime would be difficult, unless you wanted to join the Gold’s Gym down the street.
Fortunately, in my current situation I work from home 4 out of 5 days a week so I have no problem getting my workouts in after work. My kids are grown and my wife goes to school most evenings so the time after work is usually free time for me. I find a brisk run or a good weight workout is a great way to unwind after sitting for 8-9 hours in front of the computer.
Joe