One thing that has been difficult on me lately is that I want to take part in what is becoming a national pastime of sorts--binge watching shows on Netflix. My current life situation and responsibilities preclude this possibility, however. Most of the shows I'd want to watch are not completely kid-appropriate, and there are too many other responsibilities I need to devote my time to in a given week. This isn't to say I don't watch TV, but it is much less so than at other points in my life.
I remember earlier times in my life when people would say they didn't watch TV because they didn't have time, I would wonder how that could be. I still wonder that, because I still make time, but I understand better now. Now what I don't understand is how people who I know are as busy as I am are able to make time for a marathon of Stranger Things or The Crown. They have time management skills that I still need to master.
This being said, I actually have more time than Golden. Where I could realistically add a TV series or two to my schedule due to my willingness to give up some sleep, and her more constant responsibilities, it's a serious challenge to get small things added to her schedule.
All of this will change one day. We're in a busy stage of life. When the kids are older and some of our other responsibilities are lessened I anticipate us having more time for such pursuits. This is just an outgrowth of our time of life, and some of our life choices.
This has me asking a few questions, though. Is this a greener grass on the other side of the fence situation? Will I look back on this busier time with nostalgia because of the kids' ages, or will I look back with relief that things are slower? What percentage of adults are in a stage where they can't realistically binge watch a show without neglecting other responsibilities?
Monday, January 23, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
new year, healthier dust
I inadvertently scheduled a physical in the last couple of weeks last year. The timing was an accident, but it has led to a bit of an odd situation.
Every year I make a point of not making a New Year's resolution. I know that most people break their resolutions (if they're even specific enough to break) before the end of January, and so making a New Year's resolution always feels to me like an impulsive or a showy move. I know many people have great reasons for making resolutions, but for me to do it doesn't feel natural.
Since I went to the doctor's office and had the typical blood work done right before Christmas, I got a call over the Christmas holiday that my triglyceride and bad cholesterol levels were consistently elevated enough that I need to start exercising more regularly. For me this means that I need to start exercising at all.
Golden's first reaction was that we should get a membership to the local community center and work out there. My first reaction was thinking that I don't want to be one of those guys the regulars see as an annoyance who will give up in a few weeks.
What I have done so far is find a YouTube channel called FitnessBlender and start with some of their beginner routines. It turns out my boss uses the same channel for some of his exercises, so I'm not the only person I know who uses the channel. He's more active and healthier than me, though. I've committed to doing twenty minutes of routines every day, even when I'm very busy. This sounds great on the surface, but to this point I have primarily proven to myself that I am horribly out of shape because I have a hard time completing anything other than the beginner routines.
My short term goal is to get healthy enough to regularly complete the normal, not-beginner routines without too much trouble. My medium term goal is simply not to gain more weight, and ideally trim some (five pounds in a few months would be great at this point). That goal is more psychological than anything. My long term goal is to not have given up on this endeavor in one, two, five, or ten years.
Thus far, I have not modified my eating habits because I don't want to make major changes all at once that are unsustainable. To me, this whole thing is pointless if I don't keep this up over the long term. We'll see how committed I can remain to this since it's now more directly a question of health rather than just clothing size.
Every year I make a point of not making a New Year's resolution. I know that most people break their resolutions (if they're even specific enough to break) before the end of January, and so making a New Year's resolution always feels to me like an impulsive or a showy move. I know many people have great reasons for making resolutions, but for me to do it doesn't feel natural.
Since I went to the doctor's office and had the typical blood work done right before Christmas, I got a call over the Christmas holiday that my triglyceride and bad cholesterol levels were consistently elevated enough that I need to start exercising more regularly. For me this means that I need to start exercising at all.
Golden's first reaction was that we should get a membership to the local community center and work out there. My first reaction was thinking that I don't want to be one of those guys the regulars see as an annoyance who will give up in a few weeks.
What I have done so far is find a YouTube channel called FitnessBlender and start with some of their beginner routines. It turns out my boss uses the same channel for some of his exercises, so I'm not the only person I know who uses the channel. He's more active and healthier than me, though. I've committed to doing twenty minutes of routines every day, even when I'm very busy. This sounds great on the surface, but to this point I have primarily proven to myself that I am horribly out of shape because I have a hard time completing anything other than the beginner routines.
My short term goal is to get healthy enough to regularly complete the normal, not-beginner routines without too much trouble. My medium term goal is simply not to gain more weight, and ideally trim some (five pounds in a few months would be great at this point). That goal is more psychological than anything. My long term goal is to not have given up on this endeavor in one, two, five, or ten years.
Thus far, I have not modified my eating habits because I don't want to make major changes all at once that are unsustainable. To me, this whole thing is pointless if I don't keep this up over the long term. We'll see how committed I can remain to this since it's now more directly a question of health rather than just clothing size.
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