Exercise and the Writer
Like most people with desk jobs, I have to make sure that I get up and move my body every now and then, or I will sit here all day and turn into a spud. My favorite exercise is walking. Outdoors, indoors, all around town – however I can get my daily five miles in. But – and this is the crucial part – only for a long as I am entertained or can put the time to otherwise good use. I listen to books on tape or old radio shows, or I dictate a chapter, a character sketch, or letters to family and friends. After about two miles, however, my attention drifts and I start getting itchy to return to my desk.
But now, miracle of miracles, I have discovered a new product that seems made just for me. It’s called the Walkstation (from office furniture maker Steelcase, and priced at $4,000.00). The unit combines a computer with a treadmill. Imagine! You can walk and surf the Internet at the same time.
Let’s examine this wonder of wonders. The desk resembles something NASA would use (and if you have problem, do you call Houston?) – a big white, futuristic gizmo with keyboard and monitor built at the head of a treadmill so that, when the motor is going, you are constantly walking toward your desk. Interesting concept. Here is what they promise: “The desk-treadmill hybrid lets the user keep eyes and hands on a computer while strolling at a pace that burns up to 100 calories per hour.” But a quick check on the Internet tells me that sitting at a desk and doing computer work burns 120 calories an hour. Do I add the extra hundred, giving me 220 calories burned in an hour? Or is that in place of the 120 and therefore, doing the advanced math, I am actually burning fewer calories than if I just sit?
The calories aside, I must wonder what’s next? Work at your computer while taking a shower? Let’s face it, there are already people out their who work on their laptops while driving their car. But there is a bigger issue involved here. I am not the most coordinated person in the world. I have to really concentrate just to chew gum and walk at the same time. But typing while walking? I can barely pat my head and rub my stomach without falling over. (Remember that great I Love Lucy episode in which Lucy tries to shine Ricky’s shoes while typing at the same time?) And suppose I get stuck on a sentence or a word, mightn’t I forget to keep walking and end up falling on my face?
I adore the future. I look forward to visiting it. I am sure it will be furnished with tons of wonderful gadgets like the Walkstation. But I think that, for now, I will stick to my earphones and the great outdoors. And leave the chewing gum at home.
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Re: Exercise and the Writer
PS: Barbara, what kind of (audio) books do you listen to? I must admit I am not really getting into the audio book thing...but maybe I am just bad at listening ;)
Have a good one!