Comments (15)

By kilax, January 14, 2014 6:19 am

Lately, I feel so exhausted sitting at my computer all day, working. I know, total first world problem. But it’s true. So much screen time is making me tired. And making it hard for me to focus because I am forever trying to multitask when I am on the computer, even though I am NOT a good multitasker (and don’t even pretend to think I am a supertasker). 

I starting thinking about this because I saw this blurb in Men’s Health (some tip from a Nutritionist… that is not about nutrition, weird) and I loved that they called multitasking what it really is – rapid task switching. 

There is something strangely exhilarating about rapid task switching – I am switching between gchatting, texting, emailing and reviewing documents. Maybe someone will call in between! A ton of programs are open on my computer.  It’s a rush, to be doing so many things back and forth. Time goes by quickly. But… it’s probably even more rewarding when something gets my full attention. When I reach that elusive flow state. When I really dive in to something. And yeah, give it the full attention it deserves.

It must be some strange compulsion to feel like I constantly need to be engaged. Even on a phone call, I find myself wanting to check Facebook, read an email, whatever. And like, I said, I am NOT a multitasker! My only successful multitasking is eating while running, and talking to a passenger while driving. But my brain just can’t think of two different topics, simultaneously. 

And I wonder if this is why I AVOID concentration tasks. I am just not good at it. I am constantly looking for a distraction. I have really been enjoying taking the time to read novels lately… and now that I type this, I remember that Steven was teasing me the other day for texting and reading at the same time.  Ha ha. 

I am not going to pretend that I am going to change any time soon. I like feeling engaged. And being a mostly virtual employee means I have lots of interruptions (ha, being any kind of employee means that). But I would like to practice focusing on tasks better. I think it would make me dread focus time less, it I could build some confidence in that area. Hey, at least I am off to good start with trying to make texting less distracting! 

Who else is guilty of “rapid task switching”?

Comments (34)

By kilax, January 13, 2014 12:40 pm

We had time this weekend to take down our Christmas tree. 

All the decorations have been put away since the first weekend of January, so the tree was just standing there, naked and sad. Ha ha. 

It feels good to have all that space back in the house now*! And it felt really good to take the tree to be recycled at a local forest preserve, where it will be chipped and used for trails and landscaping. It’s dorky, but I find that it’s being repurposed really exciting!

But despite our tree being gone, there are still Christmas presents in our house! We’ve yet to celebrate the holiday with my family, and I have a few gifts for friends still. I really need to give those gifts… I found this product I love and would like to do a giveaway of it on my blog while it’s still useful. Ha ha ha. 

Is the holiday lingering on for anyone else?

I actually enjoy the linger. And I especially love a reason to go visit my family!

*And to have the house so tidy, since taking the tree down required A LOT of needle vacuuming. I might still have needles in my hair. 

Comments (10)

By kilax, January 12, 2014 9:45 am

Highlight of the Week: Finally having my spirit and some energy back for teaching!

Monday | January 6, 2014: teaching strength class
Strength: plates and one dumbbell mixed mode, Difficulty: easy, Felt: peppy – happy to be on the mend
Tuesday | January 7, 2014: rest
Wednesday | January 8, 2014: rest
Thursday | January 9, 2014: 3 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 15°/18°, Time: 30:35, Pace: 10:11 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: happy to be running!
Friday | January 10, 2014: teaching strength class
Strength: plates and one dumbbell mixed mode, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: excited to start something new on Monday, ha ha
Saturday | January 11, 2014: 3 m run (w/Pablo)
Loc: Grayslake, Temp: 34°/34°, Time: 29:31, Pace: 9:32 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium (icy!), Felt: decent! still really coughy
Sunday | January 12, 2014: 5.3 m run (w/Grayslake Running Club)
Loc: Grayslake, Temp: 27°/27°, Time: 51:00, Pace: 9:37 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: legs ok, but chest still meh

Notes:

• I was really surprised this am, when I was running single-file with eight other people from my running club, on the correct side of a wide, non-busy road… and a guy in his car honked at us, then stopped his car to flip us all off and show an angry face… when there was no traffic from the other direction. What the heck, dude?! Why so angry, so early on a Sunday morning?
• Speaking of clubs, yesterday was the kickoff for my multisport club. It’s so nice to be in a running club and a multisport club and have so many buddies to reach out to for company on workouts. And to reach out to for their exercise knowledge (and non-exercise knowledge)!
• Despite mentioning the above highlight of having my spirit and energy back, I still have a lot of congestion and just can’t train how I’d like to right now. It’s not really a big deal in the grand scheme of life, but I am running a half in three weeks, and I’d like to get better by then. Well, really, before then. Ha ha. 
• I forgot to mention that Meghan was the blogger who “won” a racing stats infographic! You can see it here. I also had already drawn one for Gina, because she is my bestie and I love her. Here’s hers. 

Plans for next week:

• Back to 6 days a week of working out. 
• A least one run/strength double. 
• A least one cross training workout – indoor cycling or snowshoeing (doing a snowshoe 5K with Erin at the end of the month!). 
• Run with Dad on Saturday!!! Maybe Sunday, too?!

Link to Training Week 219

Comments (20)

By kilax, January 11, 2014 8:07 pm

I hope people are complaining about me behind my back. 

Ha ha ha. Wait. I am sure lots of people are, um, but probably not for the specific thing I am thinking about. 

I hope the students that take the strength class are complaining about me behind my back. Mostly, complaining about my workouts – that the workout’s tough, that is makes them feel challenged… that it leaves them sore in a good way. 

Students often mention in my class if they are sore/tired from other classes (or their own workouts), and it just made me wonder if my classes ever get mentioned in that way. I hope so! If not, I need to work harder! 

When you take a fitness class, do you expect to feel challenged/sore (in a good way)/tired from it? I don’t mean sore/injured. Just challenged, like you worked hard and your body feels it. Maybe your abs hurt a bit when you laugh, from so many plank-ups. Or you feel your shoulder muscles burning from lateral extensions. Or you’re toilet sore from so many squats. Ha ha. 

And yes… it makes no sense that I am asking for complaints after writing this on Thursday! Maybe I should say, I hope people are commiserating about my classes. There we go. That sounds better.*

*Although, this definition of the word makes me think I have been using it somewhat wrong. 

Comments (51)

By kilax, January 10, 2014 7:16 am

Data, it appears I am not the only idiot out there. I do hope they grow back, because you look ridiculous. 

I guess no more allowing Data in the bathroom during relaxing bath time (which includes candles). Oops…

Comments (28)

By kilax, January 9, 2014 6:10 am

• Ugh, seems like I am still stuck in December fluff mode. The only post I can muster out is a list. Ha ha. I am hoping that when I start to exercise at my normal level again… that my brain will return to it’s normal level… again. Hee hee, here’s to hoping!
• I LOVE talking to my family about their fitness pursuits! Yesterday, my dad and I emailed about how he ran for an hour on Tuesday, my sister and I texted about how she tried the 30 Day Shred, and my mom and I chatted on the phone about two new classes she tried that day and what rating of perceived exertion (RPE) she should aim for in each workout. I am proud of my family!
• I received the four-in-one olloclip lens for my phone for the holiday, and I just love playing with it! It has fisheye, wide angle, a 15x macro and a 10x macro lens. I am really impressed with it. 

• Did you make resolutions or goals for the new year? So many people have asked me if I have, and I feel like I am the only one who hasn’t. Ha ha. I’m not really a goal-oriented person. 
• I had two other bullet points on here that I removed, because they were kind of negative. It seems like there has been a lot of negativity/complaining on social media lately… and I just don’t want to add to it. Maybe the cold is making people extra cranky. Am I image crafting? Yes. I keep the crappy stuff offline, typically. 

Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, XXXVII, XXXVI, XXXV, XXXIV, XXXIII, XXXII, XXXI, XXX, XXIX, XVIII, XXVII, XXVI, XXV, XXIV, XXIII, XXII, XXI, XX, XIX, XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.

Comments (22)

By kilax, January 3, 2014 10:36 am

1. #1 is definitely getting to eat the fancy vegan chocolates Steven got me for Christmas!!! Ugh, it was killing me to have those chocolates sitting there for well over a week before I dug in to them. But what is the point when you can’t taste anything?!

Was anyone else gifted chocolate?

2. Going outside! I hadn’t left my house since Saturday, until this morning. Gah!

3. Playing in the snow! I can’t wait to use my new trail shoes. And use my snowshoes! I have no idea how much snow we got this week… but I gotta guess 14″-18.” And more is coming. Woo hoo!

4. Feeling well enough to exercise, period. I had to cancel the two back-to-back strength classes I was teaching Monday night (and a personal session) and that bummed me out. 

5. Cleaning up the house / starting to put away the holiday decorations. Um, huge emphasis on starting. Ha ha. It’ll all get done this weekend. 

6. Feeling like blogging again! I’ve been so out of it on meds I was having thoughts of shutting down my blog and deactivating my Facebook account and not running any races this year and basically… hiding from everyone? Get a grip, Kim. 

7. Getting geared up to plan my sister’s bridal shower and bachelorette party! They aren’t until April, but I am stoked to start brainstorming now. 

Not on the list: going back to my day job (ugh) and less cuddle time with Data (he would NOT leave my side when I was sick!). 

I don’t know what bug I started to get on Christmas Eve but it knocked me out big time. I haven’t been that sick and miserable for a very long time. Luckily (especially for Steven – I’m completely pathetic when I am sick), I am finally starting to feel better! I must celebrate feeling human again!!! By eating ALL THE CHOCOLATES!!!