Simple Math
Since I started my full-time job, my blood pressure has skyrocketed (still normal, but high for me), my weight has crept up, and I've been running a low-grade fever. I am also tired and achy all the time. Mr. Pink says that getting some exercise will make me feel better and give me more energy, but let's run the numbers, shall we?
6:50 a.m.--Arise. Shower. Dress. Hair and makeup. Check email. Scan newspaper headlines.
8:00 a.m.--Leave (begrudgingly) for work.
8:30 a.m.--Arrive at work. Spend next 4.5 hours hunched over computer screen, proofreading the same form letter over and over. Also have added fun of reviewing spreadsheets and responding to email. If lucky and not too busy, get up for water and/or bathroom break.
1:00--Flee the office for lunch break, much of which is spent running errands, such as going to the bank, etc. Consider going home and never coming back. (Secret reason why I keep no personal effects at the office.)
1:45 (maybe 2:00)--Return to office. Repeat proofreading/spreadsheet/email duties.
5:30 (if exceptionally lucky--probably more like 6:00 or 6:15)--Flee the office for the comfort and safety of home.
6:00 (if exceptionally lucky--could be 6:30 or 6:45)--Arrive home. I need to be in bed with the lights out no later than 11:00 p.m., because if I don't get my sleep, I will get sick and/or have a complete meltdown at work. So, I have four-and-a-half to five hours to do any or all of the following:
*Laundry/household chores
*Prepare dinner
*Eat dinner
*Buy groceries/other household necessities
*Watch a television show
*Read a book
*Socialize with friends
*Read the Calendar section of the L.A. Times--the section with the comics (I love the comics)
*Work on novel
*Work on freelance projects, if any
*Converse with husband
*Wash face, brush teeth, choose outfit for following day
10:45--Get in bed.
11:00--Turn out light and pray not to have nightmares about work.
So, although exercise would be an excellent addition to my schedule, it's not something I enjoy doing, and I am loathe to spend any precious spare minutes doing something I don't enjoy. Also, I'm not quite sure where to fit it in. Perhaps I could stop doing household chores, in which case Mr. Pink and I could live in squalor. Or perhaps I could stop buying groceries...oh wait, I already haven't done that since Thanksgiving! Maybe the writer's strike will continue, and watching TV will become a moot point, since all the shows will be reruns anyway. I could probably stand to stop eating...I could stand to cut some calories from my diet. But I refuse give up working on my novel or conversing with Mr. Pink, and for the sake of not making my health any worse than it already is, I can't cut back on sleep. I certainly can't get up earlier. I detest early mornings. So really, I'm left with maybe three hours of disposable time each evening. I should spend one of those hours exercising...but I'd really rather do something more fun. Priorities, priorities.
I know that anyone who works full-time probably has a schedule similar to mine. We all have just a few brief hours of personal time each day. How do people who have hour-long commutes (or more) do it? They must get home, wolf down some food, say hello to the family, and go to bed, only to start all over again the next day. How do people who work 12 hours a day do it? How do mothers with kids do it? I cannot even begin to fathom it. It's a sad state of affairs, I tell you. I propose six-hour work days and four-day workweeks for everyone!
6:50 a.m.--Arise. Shower. Dress. Hair and makeup. Check email. Scan newspaper headlines.
8:00 a.m.--Leave (begrudgingly) for work.
8:30 a.m.--Arrive at work. Spend next 4.5 hours hunched over computer screen, proofreading the same form letter over and over. Also have added fun of reviewing spreadsheets and responding to email. If lucky and not too busy, get up for water and/or bathroom break.
1:00--Flee the office for lunch break, much of which is spent running errands, such as going to the bank, etc. Consider going home and never coming back. (Secret reason why I keep no personal effects at the office.)
1:45 (maybe 2:00)--Return to office. Repeat proofreading/spreadsheet/email duties.
5:30 (if exceptionally lucky--probably more like 6:00 or 6:15)--Flee the office for the comfort and safety of home.
6:00 (if exceptionally lucky--could be 6:30 or 6:45)--Arrive home. I need to be in bed with the lights out no later than 11:00 p.m., because if I don't get my sleep, I will get sick and/or have a complete meltdown at work. So, I have four-and-a-half to five hours to do any or all of the following:
*Laundry/household chores
*Prepare dinner
*Eat dinner
*Buy groceries/other household necessities
*Watch a television show
*Read a book
*Socialize with friends
*Read the Calendar section of the L.A. Times--the section with the comics (I love the comics)
*Work on novel
*Work on freelance projects, if any
*Converse with husband
*Wash face, brush teeth, choose outfit for following day
10:45--Get in bed.
11:00--Turn out light and pray not to have nightmares about work.
So, although exercise would be an excellent addition to my schedule, it's not something I enjoy doing, and I am loathe to spend any precious spare minutes doing something I don't enjoy. Also, I'm not quite sure where to fit it in. Perhaps I could stop doing household chores, in which case Mr. Pink and I could live in squalor. Or perhaps I could stop buying groceries...oh wait, I already haven't done that since Thanksgiving! Maybe the writer's strike will continue, and watching TV will become a moot point, since all the shows will be reruns anyway. I could probably stand to stop eating...I could stand to cut some calories from my diet. But I refuse give up working on my novel or conversing with Mr. Pink, and for the sake of not making my health any worse than it already is, I can't cut back on sleep. I certainly can't get up earlier. I detest early mornings. So really, I'm left with maybe three hours of disposable time each evening. I should spend one of those hours exercising...but I'd really rather do something more fun. Priorities, priorities.
I know that anyone who works full-time probably has a schedule similar to mine. We all have just a few brief hours of personal time each day. How do people who have hour-long commutes (or more) do it? They must get home, wolf down some food, say hello to the family, and go to bed, only to start all over again the next day. How do people who work 12 hours a day do it? How do mothers with kids do it? I cannot even begin to fathom it. It's a sad state of affairs, I tell you. I propose six-hour work days and four-day workweeks for everyone!
posted by Astera @ 9:17 PM
2 Comments:
At 9:23 AM,
Anonymous said…
I think you mean you are "loath" to spend time doing things you don't want to do!
At 11:09 AM,
Astera said…
It's just as I say...everyone needs a copy editor! You're right. I am loath to spend time doing things that I don't want to do. I loathe doing them!
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