Although all I really want to do is go home and bake right now, I'm summoning the strength to stay at school for at least a little while longer in an ill-fated attempt to coax some productivity out of myself. I'm currently trying to write up a manuscript, and although I love the idea of writing in theory, the reality is that I'd much rather not be writing up my science. I'd much rather be doing almost anything else. Except for 400m IMs.
My procrastination scale climbs ever higher as the deadline for this manuscript looms, and to counter doing "real" work I converted my computer workstation into a standing desk yesterday. Instead of raising the entire desk, I simply propped my computer, keyboard, and mouse on some large boxes so I can stand and type at the same time! In fact, as I write this, I am standing.
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| My make-shift standing workstation. |
Humans weren't designed to sit for long periods of time, its horrible on our hearts, our bodies and I'm pretty sure our brains. In order to offset the negativity of sitting, I try to make it a mission to drink two huge water bottles each day so if nothing else my runs to the restroom punctuate my stationary position. In fact, research has shown that many of the risks of sitting all day can be negated by simply standing up every 20 -30 minutes. Something that brakes up the mental tediousness too. My plan is to alternate sitting and standing depending on when I feel like.
In addition to making me somehow healthier, its also made me (slighly) more focused. Its easier to spend time googling the perfect healthy coconut macaroon recipe when you're sitting, but standing makes me feel a pulsing desire to be more efficient with my time. Side note: coconut macaroons may be making a turkey day appearance tomorrow.
As the title of this post alludes to, I still have another ~6 weeks of not seriously training. What does that look like for me? Teaching 6-8 spin classes a week, swimming with my masters group twice a week, lifting weights and/or running one to two times. Yes, the off season is time consuming, but its all stuff I LOVE to do. If I feel like skipping a workout, I give myself a pass mentally to not dwell on it. This was particularly helpful when faced with a nasty flu-like bug early last week, and although I'm not quite back to 100% 10 days later, I'm hovering around 90-95%.
I've been having some hip issues lately rooted in a genetic predisposition for my hips to rotate as well as increased training volume over the past year. As I work on strengthening my glutes through physical therapy and rebuilding my running technique, I find myself extra sensitive to the dull throbbing pain that accumulates in my hip as I sit. Hense the standing and typing thing. Well, that and the fact it distracted me from writing for a good 45 minutes.
So with that I'm off to head home and start the Thanksgiving baking. I have PT this afternoon, and I think I'm going to pick up a new pair of running shoes. The Berbee Derby 10k is tomorrow morning, and a feast of epic (albeit portion controlled) proportions is tomorrow.
