GET UP!
Dear Reader,
Are your days filled with hours of sitting? Mine are. You can
find me either writing at the computer or making art at my drawing
table.
Sitting for long periods is not healthy. And it does not help
creativity or productivity. I know this because, as hard as
I try to sit and stretch when I feel pain or numbness anywhere
from my neck down, it is not enough. After too many hours, my
eyes go out of focus and designs begin to wobble. No, I don’t
need new glasses. I NEED TO GET UP!
According to my husband, who likes to alert me to the latest
health information, there is a study that suggests that once
an hour, it is important to stand up, even walk around for a
few minutes. He said it was something about blood circulation
and its positive effect on the brain. Ergo, with that extra
shot of adrenalin? oxygen? unidentified chemical? – your
energy soars, or at least revives, which improves your productivity.
My optometrist gave me similar advice to apply to my extended
periods of visual concentration. Blink – change focus points
– give your eyes a break!
And then there is yoga. Talking class three times a week should
be relaxing. Au contraire, my friends! Yes, the stretching is
good. Yes, holding positions makes me stronger. Yes, deep breathing
matters.
But, and there’s always a but, I tend to carry my work
and troubles around in my head. Some people might say that yoga
hasn’t been 100% successful for me because I can’t
“let it go.” However, there are some advantages to
letting problems tumble around in my brain. Last week, I felt
terrible because I could not find a shape for a new chapter.
While in the downward-facing-dog position – BOING! –
it happened – I found the shape! Oxygen and/or circulation
– who cares?
Postscript: when I went back to writing and tried the solution,
it didn’t work very well. I stayed with it and asked myself
why it seemed so effective in the first place. I ended up using
a version of the solution.
Next time you have been sitting too long, plan to do something
about it. GET UP!
