I’ve been doing this thing at work for the last few weeks. Whenever I have to go use the restroom, I first pop into an infrequently used conference room and do some calesthenics. Nothing extraordinary, mind you. I usually pick three exercises from a list that includes sit ups, push ups, squats, side leg lifts, back leg lifts, and planks. It’s really probably only about 60 seconds of exercise at a time, but it has a noticable effect (affect? Fuck, I can never get that one right) on my heartrate and makes me feel all good. Plus, as a reward, I get to pee at the end. Not in the conference room, mind you.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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Amy
August 21st, 2003 at 11:35 am
ariel, does this qualify as an anti-smork burnout activity? ha!
Ariel
August 21st, 2003 at 11:38 am
Why, yes it does! (Amy’s is making reference to this ridicule-worthy article from Monster.com.)
Meesha
August 21st, 2003 at 12:50 pm
The thing I love about that Monster article is the suggestion that spending more time with your coworkers might reduce stress. Wha? My coworkers are what I hate about my job!
the mighty jimbo
August 21st, 2003 at 1:49 pm
i would be real worried if the rubber tree in the conf. room started to die.
Emily
August 21st, 2003 at 2:25 pm
I’m assuming you don’t really have to pee when you’re doing that exercising.
Margie
August 21st, 2003 at 4:46 pm
I am just curious why not do it on the way back? When I’ve got to go, I’ve got to GO! Of course, if I thought I’d do it on the way back, what would actually happen is that I’d get caught up in something as soon as I walked out the door and I’d never get to it.
leblanc
August 21st, 2003 at 5:10 pm
sometimes i do exercises araound the office, like yoga stretches while i’m waiting for things to copy, or taking the long way around the block when i go out for lunch, but i should start doing the same thing you’re doing, especially the push-ups part - i seriously need to build upper body strength.
Chasmyn
August 21st, 2003 at 8:15 pm
Effect. IT has a notiable effect. That’s wonderful, by the way! Good for you
Steve Hecht
August 21st, 2003 at 11:17 pm
Urine tip-top condition!
My trick: “affect” is only a verb; “effect” is nearly always a noun, except when it means “to bring about” (which, to my ear, is a bit affected anyway
helenjane
August 22nd, 2003 at 8:12 am
as my class reunion is in 6 short weeks, i’m implementing your mini-exercising (aack! that word! mini! so 1984!) routine pronto.
thanks!
emily
August 22nd, 2003 at 8:34 am
you are a genius.