gdc blog
a designer's lifestyle
Davin Greenwell, July 05, 2009 at 11:38 PM

How do you balance the sit-at-desk nature of design work with the need for physical activity in your day-to-day life?  

Personally, I go for walks at lunch, and sometimes I'll do the 4 kilometer walk home.  If I'm lucky, I'll get some tennis in - but there doesn't seem to be a lot of time for that.  I used to take intermittent breaks and do 20 pushups at a time and get back to work.  Of course, not every office space allows for this, and it doesn't really seem appropriate for the workplace in retrospect.  Still, how can I  regret getting that exercise?

If the interface from the Minority Report because a reality soon, we could strap weights to our arms and get a decent upper body workout while working.  That would be awesome.  Maybe we could hook up treadmill-like devices for scrolling up and down.  The point I am trying to make here is this: if we are going to be spending all our time designing, shouldn't we be looking at ways for it to actually *be* incidentally good for us?  With the rise in popularity of gesture-based input systems, I can see benefits arising from some integration with design applications.

If you're a software maker, are you thinking about this opportunity?  I'm looking at you, Adobe.  

If you're an employer, are you encouraging your employees to get physical activity?  I worked at a company a few years back that offered an extra 30 minutes added on to lunch specifically for physical activity.  I found the policy added a little endorphins to the middle of the day and the benefit afterwards was increased productivity.  Kick that lethargy to the curb.  

As usual, comments, questions, opinions, criticisms, recommendations, tips and tricks are all encouraged.  What are you doing to achieve balance between the nature of desk work and the need for physical activity?  What are you not doing that you would really like to be doing?

Leave a comment below or connect with me @davingreenwell.

Posted In:Sustainability, Ethics & Practices
 
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Comments
robert randall(9 months ago)
After years in the hospitality industry I got a full time job creating computer graphics. As time passed I got so restless I would spot City workers fixing potholes or similar and I would be overcome with a desire to grab a shovel and do "real" work.

Robert Randall

Angela Hot(9 months ago)
Bikes or treadmills that power our computers?

I think that one has to make it a priority in their life or else we're all going to turn into a bunch of blobs. Personally, I plan my weekday evenings around what physical activities (mostly tennis) I've got going on, after that, other stuff can move in to the calendar.

Adrian J.K. Shum(9 months ago)
A great post Davin!

With the undeniable problem of obesity (particularly in North America), this is definitely (or should be) a hot topic for the times.

I fall in with the minority. I train Kyokushin Karate 4 times a week (between 1.5-2hrs), and on my 'off' days (when I feel like it) I go to the gym or for a bike ride. I also enjoy golfing... ;) I don't have the responsibilities of being a parent, or a spouse, so it's much easier for me to maintain this lifestyle. I fully understand the challenges that others face when it comes to 'finding time'.

In all honesty, it doesn't take all that much time. You can bang off 100 push-ups in 10 minutes easily (with training), augment that with 100 squats/lunges and 200-300 sit-ups/crunches and you'll be in great shape in no time. ;D Seriously, it's all mind over matter... make time or find time - no excuse is a good excuse, it's your body.

I'd love to have an interface like the one shown in Minority Report... if only that would be financially feasible. Perhaps in a few more years... we can only hope.

Cheers!

Rod Roodenburg(8 months ago)
Always good to balance... For a time, at our studio we had a number of us all take an extended lunch break and go for a jog to the local gym and work out for an hour. It was great to do this, but wasn't sustainable when we got slammed with work and it eventually stopped altogether. Personally, I play soccer 2 -3 times a week and do floor exercises (like Adrian). I do daily crunches/sit-ups (don't like doing them), and do 200-300 push ups, plus lunges, etc. Doesn't take a whole lot of time and I do 'em in the evening.

Name(8 months ago)
I walk to the fridge rather than drive …

Laura Prpich(8 months ago)
This is something that I've struggled with as a designer for a while. It's hard to schedule exercise into your life when deadlines need to be met and your time table changes from one day to the next.

That is why I workout before work. Painstakingly, I get up before the sun and either run or hit up a yoga class at the bodhi tree. It's the only way I can guarantee some exercise before my schedule gets hectic, and it does wonders for productivity, seriously!

Damn he's good looking!
David Coates(8 months ago)
Rod does my push ups for me. Thanks Rod!

Jennifer Cook(8 months ago)
Great topic! I agree with Laura Prpich - I try to do something in the morning before I start work and then if possible, I do something again in the evening. Planning something at the end of your day helps you set limits and keep a balance. I've done three Ironman triathlons and the training has allowed me to meet (and network) with a whole new group of people.

Denton Pendergast(8 months ago)
Thanks for posing the question,I've struggled with this one as well. My current answer is to peddle across town to earn my coffee. By the time I get there I'm awake and feeling energized. I've incorporated thirty to forty five minutes of reading on design and design issues at the coffee shop then ride to the studio, inspired by what I've read (so easily inspired!) and am ready to begin the working day.
This is all working well while the weather remains fantastic but will I be able to keep it up come winter?

Name(8 months ago)
Does anyone ever try those weights that you can put around your arms and feet? They force you to exert a little more effort while walking around.

Dan Contogiannis(7 months ago)
Another interesting article, if only you guys could post them faster!.
thanks.

d.

Davin Greenwell(7 months ago)
Hey, thanks for the great discussion folks. A lot of interesting comments and a lot of interesting experiences. Dan, there's a new post up right now. Sorry it's not as frequent as you'd like, it's not as frequent as I'd like either! Such is life in the summer ..

dlysen(6 months ago)
When I am up to something, I am still looking for a mood to do the things that i want, Its hard to make up over your pending jobs when you have to finished a newly important job. Its hard to finished a task if you don't know what is your priority. I need an advise where I should get the feeling of doing thins in order of importance.
Thanks for the idea that i read here.

Brendon Ehinger(6 months ago)
Two Words... no wait... three... "Bike to work" For me it's a 20 minute ride each direction (up hill, both ways)


christina peressini(6 months ago)
Consider getting a dog. Mine gets me out morning, noon and night for walks. And once my knees are better, she'll have me out running too. I frequently walk past Ion Design with her, actually. Was sort of hoping to catch Rod doing he and Dave's push ups but I see those happen in the evening and not during the work day.
:(

Ron Design(5 months ago)
Personally, I fit into the blob category. Too mentally wasted at the end of the day to even think about activity, I bow to the blue screen and let its zombie-making waves wash over me. Gently they clean clients, deadlines, and design ideas from my mind. My wife is kind enough to wipe the thin line of drool from the corner of my mouth every hour or so. Hey, its a system.

Raghava(4 months ago)
visit

www.digitalartworks.in

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