Looks like we’ve almost come down to the end of another day. Again, ELA classes grow and expand for summer, like the crazy octopoidal things that they are. I’m just not hurting for students. You can stop sending them to us. I’m running out of places to put them.
So. Tonight is Weight Watchers night. It’s not a writing topic, exactly, balance and fitness, but it is. Nope, it’s not an extended analogy.
I have returned to Weight Watchers because the new Weight Watchers is kewl. It’s not really about losing weight any more. It’s about being healthy. It’s about getting in 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day. It’s about getting in activity. It’s about drinking water. All those things you know you should do. As a side effect, one might shed a little weight. I have shed a little, in spite of the undead metabolism I have. But the point is doing what you can to be healthy and minimizing vices.
So, sedentary job persons, do you take care of yourself? Do you move? I’ll admit I haven’t been moving as much as I should. While I am eating well (I plan out my food a week at a time and mostly stick to that. This allows for indulgences AND healthy eating. Score.), recently I haven’t been moving much. I come home tired, and I often set up a false dichotomy. Writing or moving? Which will you do? Some nights I write. Fewer nights I move.
Oh dear. Looks like we’re back to life balance again. Trying to do it all is impossible. So, how do we prioritize?
Ain’t nothing happening no how if you don’t take care of your health. If you don’t want your health to become this thing you have to spend extra time managing because you’re sick, you’ve got to spend some time doing the things that make you healthy.
I am not a big fan of doing the things that make me healthy. I am a big fan of doing things I enjoy. I like walking. I like some of my Wii pursuits (frisbee golf! ballet studio! super hula hoop!) They (okay, fitness people) say that if you do things you enjoy that keep you fit, you fake yourself out, and you do them. There’s merit to this. Try not to make working out a chore. Do get up out of that chair though. It’s easy for people to sit and read, sit and write, sit and work. Don’t damage yourself.
Yup. This goes contrary to the advice writers hear constantly, “butt in chair.” There’s a time for butt in chair. There’s a time for butt out of chair.
I am also kind of a foodie. Mind, I’m not a full out foodie because Bryon is not a foodie. He would look at some fancy foods and suddenly question marks would sprout over his head. BUT I can find some fun things to experiment with for lunch. Tonight after my WW meeting I’m going home to make a lentil and chick pea salad. Which could be mighty tasty. Experiment. A lot of times people don’t think about what they eat, and reach for the easy. Where’s the fun in that? Be careful with boredom eating. Also be careful with tired eating.
I’ll admit, I am tired often. Because, you know my full time job is a FULL TIME job. I get up at 5:30 am, and go full tilt, most days into the evening. It seems I must rest, because if I don’t, I’ll try to perk myself up by eating. Sometimes you do have to rest. Can’t run all the time.
Is it reasonable to assume you can take care of yourself, work, and pursue another endeavor? That answer varies from person to person. In my case, I’m gonna say yes. I am going to say that it is more difficult to fit in all those things if you don’t plan. I am a planner. That’s a tool that really helps me. I love a nice, realistic schedule.
And sometimes I plan to have a spontaneous day. 😀
So. I keep trying. I do need to eat, so I need to do it healthily. I do need to move, so I need to make it enjoyable. I can’t sacrifice my health for my writing, any more than I can sacrifice my writing for my job.
If it slows me down, well, there’s that patience I keep learning. Just like I’ve learned not to feel guilty when I fall asleep on the couch.
Catherine
Yeah, I hear you. My biggest problem with exercise is that, while I like how I feel after it’s done, I really don’t enjoy doing it. Makes it hard to motivate 🙂