multitasking design work and exercise

[sigma38]

Help- I've just gotten a big contract that will keep me working 12+ hour days (with about 1/3 out of my home office). And I'm getting fat. Can I say that here? Is this like a 12-step program for exercise challenged aircraft engineers?

Seriously though- anybody have any good tips for getting in my needed exercise *while* working on the computer (both design and analysis)? Anybody do a treadmill, cycle, etc. while they work?

 

[KENAT]

Well, I've often proposed a little cycle attached to the computer some how so that if you don't peddle a certain amount per hour the screen shuts down until you start peddling again or something similar.

In practice if I'm busy at work my weight typically goes up. The reasons are 2 fold.

1. As you say, less time to exercise.
2. When I'm stressed and get hungry rather than eating healthily I'll often hit junk, especially candy (Biscuit Boost were my fave in the UK, fortunately they don't have them here in the states)

The first one is difficult to do much about, sure you can take the stairs more, walk to further away copiers etc but there's a limit to how far that will get you. You can make what time you do have more effective by finding more intense activities but it's no golden bullet.

I set myself a new years resolution to work less & exercise more. Went well through January, i didn't really lose weight but it got to the point I was feeling a little better. We then hit a major product release and my hours have gone back up and even when I have the time I don't have the inclination to exercise. I'm working to fix this so if anyone has any useful input I'd be interested too.

 

[wes616]

Honestly I fight with this issue every day... call it bad self-image or what have you. Try to make time every day to do something.

Fortunately my company has a gym on site, so I try to work out at lunch 3 days a week (then eat at my desk afterwards).

Also, bring 2 pieces of fruit to work to eat instead of the daily doughnut or snack machine cookie.

It's the little things that make the difference. Park a little further out in the lot, or just a quick walk around the neighborhood before hitting the side-work.

There is no miracle cure. It is a life long struggle, that has to be taken one day at a time.

Wes C.
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[TateJ]

Wear comfortable shoes & adjust the height of your desk so you can work standing up.

Windows XP / Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 / SolidWorks 2007 SP2.2 / SpaceBall 5000 / Lava Lamp

http://www.Tate3d.com

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[pja]

Don't watch tv..even if you work 14 hour days sleep 7 hours a night that still leaves 3 hours, 2 of which you can spend with your significant other(s) and 1 of which you can exercise.

 

[KENAT]

Um, pja, I thought the latest medical advice was to sleep at least 8 hours.

Also at some point in the day it may be nice/necessary to eat, shower, do house work, commute...

Sure not watching TV would make a difference for many of us but your numbers don't quite add up for most people.

 

[sigma38]

Yaa, that's about the normal schedule. Definitely no TV.

I probably should have clarified... home office really means home office so I'm free to work however I wish. So I could excercise and work on the computer at the same time (and in my underwear if I wish, though that's certainly a scary visual). Anybody do similar (the excercise part, not the underwear part)?

 

[sigma38]

Here's another thought... anybody notice that if you work at one specific type of activity you aren't as tired as if you combine them? For instance... I can work outside all day swinging a hammer and feel good at the end of the day. Or I can do engineering all day and feel fine. But if I try to do a half a day of each it really bonks me.

That's one problem I have with excercising in the middle of the day- it causes me to crash. I'm better trying to get some excercise right before I go to bed.

 

[KENAT]

Sorry, I only do the underwear part

As it's literally a home offict and you're an engineer why not take the idea of pedals attatched to your desk/chair/computer so you can peddle while you type and run with it.

I'm thinking a set up like on a reclined bicycle but with the peddles going to a resistance device instead of wheels.

Hmm, maybe this is the million dollar idea my wife always says I should have.

 

[pja]

Eat at your desk,sleep in your office....shower and laundry are optional...problem solved...: )

 

[KENAT]

So that's what I've been doing wrong...

 

[Stringmaker]

I always like getting up an hour early and going for a 45 minute run in the morning. It takes discipline but the rest of the day I'm sharp as a tack and the 8:30 am cup of coffee is optional. Even though I get an hour less sleep I feel much more energized throughout my day when I run in the morning. That leaves the rest of the day to focus on what I need to do rather than what I should be doing. Give it a shot and see how you feel after a week of doing it. I typically on need 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night though so that definitely helps.

The best recommendation is to simply make the time...no other way around it. You can't have everything unfortunately. Good luck!