Wild Dingo.Net

You have to hand it to them. They sure are “thinkers!” Exercising while working at your desk. Ya. They may even suggest texting while in yoga. Ever wonder why a “healthy” person suddenly drops dead? Probably because they’re multi-tasking. Or perhaps, multi-stressing. Why bother doing anything if you can’t be 100% present while doing it? Where’s the value? One reason why you should go to the gym or go outside and do your exercise away from work is to be away from one thing and doing another that gives you pleasure or relief from another stressor. If you don’t like exercise, there are plenty of options for staying healthy and fit other than piling it on to your multi-task routine.

I’m seeing it every day. People my age, generation X, people in their 30’s-40’s, who are suddenly becoming mysteriously tired, unable to sleep or concentrate at work. And why? Because we’re connected 24/7 via the Web. I don’t understand why we keep buying more gadgets, belonging to more online social communities and spending more time in front of a machine and less time being outside, being with people (or in my case doggies) as much as we can. Why are we trying to find ways to spend MORE time on our machines and less time being alone with our thoughts or with those we love or doing something we enjoy that may just make us healthy? I work on the web (well, barely these days) and I can tell you, I don’t twit or tweet, I don’t stumble or bumble. I don’t facebook or spacelook. I don’t flicker or snicker. I don’t have the time. But I do blog and read at best on the Web. And i still have a basic cell phone that doesn’t text.

Wake up Gen X. Get off your gaget horse and get outside. Walk in the sunshine. Ride a bike in the foggy forest. Jog on the beach. You may not get that tree-fiddy raise because you didn’t spend that extra 6 hours per week at the office, but guess what? Your time is a heck of a lot more valuable than that raise, that broken glass ceiling or that promotion. Do your job, but by golly, give yourself some time. And above all, be present–100% present–at everything you do. Be present at your job. Be present during your jog. Be present while playing cards with your kids. Be present while playing frisbee with your dog. Be present while talking with your spouse. Be present in your yoga class.  Being present may be the one thing to keep you healthier than any office desk multi-tasking treadmill.

Oh, and more doggie stories on the way.