stress fightin' machine

A week ago I attended my first giant staff meeting for my new branch of the college. As an ice breaker, we answered a serious of questions - How will your co-workers know if you are stressed? How will you combat stress? How will you work toward life balance? As I stared at the questions on the page, I realized that the treadmill desk has fundamentally changed my work persona. While the answer to the first was pretty easy - I will be frustrated about mundane things - it was difficult to craft answers to the other two which didn't include treadmill desk in the answer. How will I combat stress? - walk a few minutes on the tread. How will I strike balance in my life? - walk a few minutes on the tread. I realized that not only has my body responded physically to the demands of walking an average of 4.8 miles per day at work, but my psyche has also responded positively. Being able to put myself in a work zone is great - the increased productivity and focus washes away any stress that might otherwise build up. It can also be a johnny-on-the-spot remedy. As we finish up the second week of classes, I wonder if I will feel the same way once mid-semesters (and their associated d-slips) roll around.

See you later, See you soon

As I am T minus 48 hours from officially starting my new job, I decided to create a compilation CD for my dear friends who have been along for the ride (some knowingly, some not so much). Although I am moving less than a football field from my previous locale, the distance is far greater in terms of personal and professional movement. As much as I can't wait to get started on my new chapter, I am equally troubled by the sense of abandoning several friends. So no better way to help quell those feelings than creating something that will perhaps serve as a small token of appreciation for their steadfast friendships.

Here is the playlist, which I might add, is a great treadmill desk playlist.

1. You Don't Have To Move Mountains Nickel Creek
2. Morning Star Borne
3. I Was Here Lady Antebellum
4. Peace Be Upon Us Sheryl Crow
5. Learn to Live Darius Rucker  (changed my mind on this one)
6. This Is a Good Street Mudcrutch
7. Truly Believe Edwin McCain
8. Heal Yourself Ruthie Foster
9. Everything to Me Tamarama
10. The Best Ride Stereo Fuse
11. Chutes & Ladders Sean Watkins
12. Mastermind Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
13. Suddenly, I See KT Tunstall
14. Get Your Shine On Jesse McCarthy
15. Diamond Road Sheryl Crow
16. Through My Door The Muckrakers
17. Live Out the String Marc Cohn
18. All Good Reasons Barefoot Truth
19. Clarity Shawn MacDonald
20. See You Later, See You Soon Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers

Thanks to all who have supported me in this adventure!

Steadiness of purpose

Thanks to my dear friend S and my sweet brother R, I am reminded to begin to think and engage in that age old tradition of making a resolution or two for the coming year.  Real Simple magazine (January 2009) suggests that rather than committing to do something (eat better, exercise more, stress less, etc.) that we should commit to NOT doing something (being consumed by things we cannot control, worry, obsess over our bodies, etc.)  So in that vein, I am working both sides of the resolution coin so to speak.  I looked up the etymology of the word resolution (I've resolved to let my inner geekdom shine forth in 2009) and settled on the following from which to guide my thinking: "Determination; firmness or steadiness of purpose; confidence; conviction, certainty, positive knowledge" (source: OED ).  I resolve to continue my sabbatical habits of moving while I work, which will allow me to be a positive force at work and at home.  I am resolving NOT to concern myself with the water that has already passed under the bridge.  I am also resolving to embrace my new job, responsibilities, surrounds, and co-workers.  I am also resolving NOT to forget where I've been and where I am going - this journey is only just beginning.

Crossroads

Well now that I have formalized my brief stop at a career crossroads, I am excited to announce that effective January 1, 2009, I will trade in my tape cutting scissors and ortho exams for new responsibilities as the newly appointed Director of Academic Resources.  For those of you that know me, this is just the perfect amount of stretch and challenge -- as I explained to my 11 yo, rather than being responsible for student-athletes' physical health, I will be responsible for students' academic health.  This is a formidable challenge and an exciting new venture.  I have to admit that shortly after the Dean and Provost pitched the position to me - one of my first thoughts was "hmmmm, I wonder if they will let me bring along my treadmill desk."  Since we are quite deep in snow - and likely won't thaw out too soon - figuring out how to move Treadmill Desk 3.0 into the administration building is not something I yet have to entertain.  I am reminded however that just as the treadmill desk had a legitimate place in my soon-to-be-former position, it also has a place in my soon-to-be-new position in that it is a perfect demonstration of how kinesthetic learners can keep one part of their brains busy (by walking) while the other parts go to work on reading, writing, figuring, exploring, applying, experimenting, etc.  I am excited to model this type of learning preference accommodation.  So just when I thought this journey was coming to an end, I am excited that it is just taking a hard right turning and getting started all over again.

From my vantage...

...it looked kind of like my treadmill, which made it a whole lot easier to shovel the 16" of snow that had accumulated in the driveway and along 150' of sidewalk.  Not only was my shovel just about as wide as the tread, but when I got to the end of the walkway, I turned around to discover that I could also follow my progress in the icy remnants of my treadmill.  As I look back over the 50 some posts that make up this blog, I realize that this is much more than a report about how I set up my treadmill desk and how much (or how little) progress I am making.  Rather, it is the tidbits of a life being rediscovered.  Friday marked my arrival at an unexpected crossroads, one that I hope to speak to early next week.  I'm not sure if I would have been mentally or physically prepared as I was had I not jumped on this tread and committed to do something solely for me.  The investment in my physical wellbeing is also paying off dividends in my emotional, psychological, and professional health.  So as I stand at the crossroad, ready to take a hard right turn, I am thankful for a forum to explore the ideas and for the family and friends who have been so supportive in this journey and whose commitment to me for my next journey is palpable.  "I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it." Rosalia de Castro

Solace in the hum

Sometimes when you least expect it, life just jumps up and bites you in the behind.  This happened to me at the end of this past week and as I prepared for a series of unexpected meetings, I found amazing solace and calm aboard the tread.  I'm not sure if it were the whirrr of my tread motor (although it is pretty quiet) or the steady rhythm of my steps that lulled me in to a quiet reassurance.  I felt grounded, focused, and ready to take on the world successfully, which, incidentally, I did.  After the meetings, I found the treadmill to be the perfect place to debrief.  I turned up my sabbatical soundtrack and let the motion, music, and minutes return me to my pre-meeting, stress-less place. As I gear up for another long week, I find that like any kind of activity, a little warm up aboard the tread pays off.  I am also pleased to note that although the week in hindsight seemed pretty stressful, I managed to maintain my routine and continue to make good progress toward my goals (see progress report to the right).

Pushing past the wall

For the first time in 70 some days - I had no desire to jump on to my treadmill desk.  I fell asleep watching an 8:00pm show with my older son. Last night I was awoken in the middle of the night by some noisy neighborhood teens, which was shortly followed by a call from a friend informing me that my younger son, who was at her house for a sleepover, had woken up with an earache and fever.  Today we spent the entire day entertaining mostly strangers in our house as we survived our stint on the Children's Home Society Parlor Tour.  So I am tired.  I am yawning as I type and walk.  But when I began this journey, I committed to myself to make no excuses.  For me, excuses - legit or fabricated - have always become a slippery slope.  If I bag out of my routine because I am tired, then I create a precedent for bagging out when I have too much to do.  Exercise, nutrition, and general wellbeing must be purposeful and that is the journey that I have committed to; one that reclaims my previous self from excuses, self-doubt, boredom, and external criticism.  This is not to say that I would jeopardize my husband's, children's, or own wellbeing, rather this is more of a realization that when I am able - being purposeful in this journey pays dividends in a healthier me, which in turn transports me to a more energetic, happier, and healthier place from which to care for my family, work, and other responsibilities.  So 20 minutes in to a routing on an evening of a day that was likely to see 0 minutes -- I journey on.