I Get High Every Morning Before Work

Intentional Living

Apr 24

Written By Jenny Lee

The first time I did it, I didn't intend to get high. Now I'm addicted. And I look forward to it every morning.

Sometimes I even do it right after work.

Even Chris does it now, almost every morning before work.

Spoiler Alert: this post isn't about illegal substances.

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I Would Walk 500 Miles

(This song frequently gets stuck in my head every morning.)

In trying to lose these stubborn 20 post-baby pounds (note: baby is now 2 years old now), I joined Noom in frustration. (It's a paid app to help you lose weight with psychology-driven articles and one-on-one time with a coach—and another spoiler alert, I just cancelled it.)

Anyway, the app suggested something I've heard a million times before: walk more to lose weight. Hell, it's why I bought a Fitbit and an Apple Watch to begin with. You kind of figure that buying a device to track your activity will automatically inspire you to move more, right? Hmm.

While Noom won't get my money, I still thank them for this idea every day: I now get off two stops early on my way into work and I walk the rest of the way.

Because train stops in center city tend to take longer at each stop, it turns out I only get to work about 10 or 15 minutes later than I normally do when I take the train to the stop by my office.

Anyway, by the time I get to work, I've walked a brisk 1.4 miles in about 25 to 30 minutes. I'm sweaty, but I'm overjoyed. (The happiness also comes from the step count boost I get on weekly Fitbit challenges with my friends….)

Walking Without Distractions

In trying to reimagine my relationship with technology (i.e. Social Media Ban), I've also started to dedicate my walks to be a phone-free event.

This means:

No podcasts
No music
No wexting (walking whilst texting)
Etc

I make these 30-or-so minutes every morning sacred, focusing on getting from point A to B, but also taking in my surroundings and people watching as they zoom by.

Liken this to a moving meditation.

I'm lucky to have the beautiful Schuylkill Banks trail on which to walk, too.

Without my phone to distract me, I'm able to gather my thoughts, watch my fellow walkers and joggers, and just enjoy the morning.

Funnily enough, I've noticed most other people along the trail are plugged in somehow, either listening to music or staring at their phones. I'm not saying that's bad—just last week I was listening to Jimmy Fallon songs on the way in and business podcasts on the way out. But I am definitely feeling different by not using my phone in any way.

Good Ideas Are Flowing

I'm reading Bored and Brilliant in the hopes of wooing me to become less dependent on tech, since I noticed a huge issue when it comes to my relationship with the internet and my well-being.

When I just walk, I come up with ideas.

Marketing ideas
Writing ideas
Ideas on how to solve coding problems for work
Social experiment ideas (like daring myself to say hi to everyone who looks me in the eye for one week)
Ideas I shouldn't discuss publicly