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blogging, freelancer, north carolina writers, open mics, poetry, writer's diet, writing life, writing process
Writing is a sedentary endeavor, but fitness is pretty similar to writing. Both require focus, goals, determination and self-discipline. Both show results over time. Both are our responsibility.
What can you do while sitting at your desk? It’s been more than a decade since JetBlue introduced airplane yoga. Nowadays…
…it is possible to walk while writing. At last year’s American Society of Journalists & Authors’ conference, Esquire editor-at-large and Mental Floss commentator A.J. Jacobs relayed his experience setting up a treadmill desk. In fact, he wrote an entire book while walking at his desk. Very inspiring!
The past few years I’ve noticed a surge in stand-up writing desks. I’m still using the nearly 100-year-old desk we acquired last year, but in the next few weeks I will be renovating/redecorating my office and might consider a stand-up option. Honestly, the stand-up desks are just plain ugly. I can’t find one that doesn’t look overly modern or clunky!
Over the last six months I lost 14 pounds and 5 inches off my waist. 🙂 Writers are known to be solitary, and I prefer my workouts that way. However, I have a nice social balance with all of the open mics, writing and poetry groups I’m involved with, so for the first time ever I took a group exercise class this week (more about that below). Here’s what I’ve been doing and I’m curious about your fitness choices. I’d love to add some variety to the mix!
Ran my first 5K this fall in Cary, NC.
Running. If you asked me to run a mile two years ago I wouldn’t have been able to finish. I’m amazed that today I can run over 3 miles without stopping and still feel ready to do more. I ran my first 5K a few weeks ago. 🙂
Jump rope + Netflix. I can completely zone out for 30 minutes and jump while watching “The Office”, “Gilmore Girls” or “Buffy” on Netflix – and I do so 5 days out of the week.
XHIT. XHIT is a YouTube exercise channel that has many different types of workouts. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), military boot camps, plyometrics, yoga – I LOVE it! I pick 3 videos to do every day.
HIIT. This month I am doing the 30-day HIIT Challenge from fitness instructor Neila Ray. She offers dozens of different workout charts on her site. Great for solo workouts.
Barre. Our friend back on Long Island has talked about how much she enjoys barre classes, so I looked for some here in the Triangle. I found a few Pure Barre locations and went to two classes this week. Nice to get away and completely focus on a workout.
How do you balance staying active with sitting at your writing desk?
I try to go dancing (lindy hopping- which is as fast and active as they come), take short walks and tidy up. Don’t laugh, but the tidying bit usually ends up being the most intensive workout 😀
How cool! I have heard of that dance style, but have not tried it. Short walks add up–it’s great you do that! If I am short on time and I can’t squeeze in a full workout, I tell myself just to spend 10 minutes and run a mile. At the end of the year that could be 24+ miles that I would have missed out on.
Yes–tidying up! I’d love a calorie-counter for that. Vacuuming, scrubbing, organizing. So much energy.
If you like swing music (and jazz and rock’n’roll), you’d really get a kick out of it:) One of my 2015 resolutions is to go dancing more. The only problem is I live in a really big city, and the studio is pretty far from where I live.
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