Saturday, November 9, 2013

Exercise and the Writer

by Kaye George

Increasingly, I hear online chatter about the conditions of writers’ bodies: their hands, their backs, or just in general. C’mon people! We have to take care of our instruments. We can’t write without our hands and fingers. Well, we can if we use voice recognition software, but I’ve heard that it’s less than ideal. I don’t want to do that for a long while.

There are ways to keep in shape in a sedentary job. There are chair exercises, for example. Dr. Oz has one. I did this one and got a good workout.

This chart is good.  I printed this one out for my bulletin board--it’ll be a little easier on the knees.

This page has some for the less able-bodied. 

Here’s a sit down chair workout

These are a little more strenuous. They’re supposed to be done in an office, but they’re pretty conspicious. 

The only problem is finding time to do them, right?  Wrong. You can work these in all day long. Set a timer for 50 minutes. When it rings, do 10 minutes of exercise, then get back to writing.

Now, go forth and do as I say. I’m not saying I do this faithfully!


6 comments:

Jean Henry Mead said...

I agree, Kaye. Exerecise is good for the brain as well as the body, especially trampolines. I use a treadmill first thing in the morning and my exercise bike while watching "Jeopardy" in the evenings. It really recharges me.

Kaye George said...

I used to use my elliptical with Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, but they're at such different times here, I've gotten out of the habit. I should get back in!

Morgan Mandel said...

I sometimes sit too long and I have a very hard time getting up afterward. The best thing is to get up after half an hour stretches. I need to use a timer!

Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.cojm

Kaye George said...

I highly recommend a timer! Mine has 10 minutes to go, than I'll get up and do...something.

Barry Knister said...

There's a simple solution to the whole business of avoiding bed sores as a writer: live with a dog, and preferably (for obvious reasons) not a lapdog. Dogs need to be walked, and so do writers. This is symbiosis in the best sense.

Kaye George said...

I agree, Barry, that's an ideal solution.