Does anyone else find it annoying to be told to take a seat and wait? I find it maddening.
There is such a lack of activity these days. Wouldn't it be better to have a pacing area or even a standing zone.
We hear reminders regularly to move more, but when waiting is required, we're commanded to sit. I usually try to find a place to stand instead. Room to take a few steps is a welcome bonus. Otherwise, I'm that unusual woman standing in the corner doing calf raises.
People look at me oddly when I stand to talk to them. They invite me to sit and seem confused when I say I prefer standing.
In ultra running there is a saying. “Beware the chair.” I think that should be prevalent in life in general.
Newton's first law of motion declares that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Although he isn’t really discussing a human body, I think it applies as well. The more I move, the more I can and want to move.
Ironically, I'm writing this article while intentionally not moving as much as I usually do. A fall while moving a fence for our cows has come back to haunt me, so I'm walking instead of running. However, I still prefer to stand over sitting.
Lord willing, some extra rest and pampering will allow my sore leg to heal.
The lack of motion is driving me a little, okay maybe a lot, crazy.
My usual routine involves an hour or so of exercise as soon after getting out of bed as I can manage. It's my way of waking up and getting my mind and body going for the day. It's great stress management and it gives me energy for the rest of the day.
When I worked in an office, I used to hold parking lot meetings. I much preferred laps around the parking lot in the sunshine than sitting in a chair under artificial light. And people tended to get to the point faster, maybe because their minds worked better on the move or maybe because they wanted to stop walking. Either way we had shorter meetings and more sunshine.
I think there's a connection between moving and clear thinking. How often have we struggled over a problem only to realize the solution while walking to the coffee pot or taking a shower?
My think and work mode has remained over the years. Many of these columns begin as notes on my phone recorded while I'm doing farm or other regular chores.
I'm writing this article on my phone while on my deck in the first light of the morning. I'm standing still for now, but I'm doing so in hope of much more movement to come.
What could you do while waiting? Maybe stand and brainstorm project ideas or solutions to your toddler's latest bad habit. There's so much more we could be doing when forced to wait than sitting and playing games on our phones.
Next time you are told to sit and wait, consider standing. Maybe we can start a trend.
