The Office

By Leah

In this ever-hectic pace of running the Wellness Task Force, I have found myself doing the opposite of what I encourage others to do: step out and exercise. For nearly a month I shrugged this personal health responsibility partially because of time (I was working 15-17 hour days for most of May and June) and partially because of my lungs (bronchial asthma issues). Still, if I had a full staff (wouldn’t that be great!) and healthy lungs, I am sure that I would have found some other excuse to not run. Why? I don’t know. Mentally, I wanted to run (at least I think I did); physically, I was exhausted. However, a new dawn has risen for this ol’ bird. A dawning called, “The Office.” Don’t get confused, I’m no Michael Scott (aka Steve Carrell). I’m not that witty or clueless... I stray…the office is my new sanctuary. It is officially the site for the Wellness Task Force that can be visited on any occasion without having to knock on the front door of my house. This transition has caused great confusion, some agony, and a brilliant passage into a new phase of activity.

Prior to this week I could work 24 hours a day; I didn’t, but I could have. I generally turned on my computer by 7:00 a.m. and worked until 11:30 or so at night – taking a 20 min break for lunch, a few minutes to pick up baby girl from preschool and deliver the happy teenager to volleyball practice, and an hour or so for dinner, plus the occasional moment to squeeze my kids. What heartache. Not only was I addicted to work, but it left my heart breaking each time my four-year-old inquired, “Mom, can you play with me now? Or, are you still working?” Hug, kiss, squeeze…work. On top of that, my workouts were pushed and pulled during an occasional extended lunch hour or early Saturday mornings. It certainly wasn’t the lifestyle I advocate for every day and I’m not very proud of it. Proud of my work outcomes, yes. Proud of my family and personal outcomes, no. So, what changed? The office!

In May I took money out of my tax savings and rented an office for the Task Force. (Yes, I’m hoping to get reimbursed at some point.) I paid for a year in advance thus guaranteeing myself that I would have to move – and stay – out of my home office (at least for the most part). Though still not completely moved in (how much can one Task Force accumulate??), I have now been working behind my “official office” desk for almost a week. The first two days I actually, physically moaned around the house in the evening. I swear it was the oddest sense of work withdrawal. I felt so disconnected and I tossed and turned with a notebook next to my bed to write down all the things I needed to get done the next day. I was just used to everyone being able to reach me 24 hours a day and I felt...dispossessed. I still wasn’t spending a lot of time with my kids because I was restless, but I wasn’t about to pick up baby girl and bring her back to the office. Can you imagine the stack of toys I’d need to bring to occupy her? However, few days have passed and things are calming down (or at least I am calming down).

Three days this week I’ve risen between 4:30 a.m and 5:00 a.m. to eat and go for a run or do a track workout with my team, Folsom Road Runners. Three days! This morning I ran 6 miles. I haven’t run six miles in more than a month! Each time I have arrived back home in time to shower, play with my daughter, and get to the office by 8:00 or 8:30. Each night I have closed down my computer by 5:45 and picked up my daughter from preschool. I then have had the remainder of the evening to hang with the kids, clean house, and…that’s right…sleep! Who would have thought? To be completely honest, I have come back once on the weekend and once around 9:00 p.m. during the week to finish a few things, but that’s not nearly what it used to be. I imagine that during this busy season (January – November) I will be pulling some weekend work hours to cover what needs to be done, but I am thrilled with my progress. I am on the three step plan: 1) Workout while everyone’s asleep, 2) Work, 3) Be with family (not necessarily always in that order). I am hoping to stick to it. Certainly I already feel better. More rested, stronger, and happier. The question is, will the Task Force allow me to maintain this routine? Or will I need to move a cot into the office? That remains to be seen.