{Fitness Corner} Sometimes life happens

I have been doing well to keep my routine going. This week, I have been focusing on training for a 5K. I haven't been training hard or anything, but just shifting gears from strength training to running more. I've been able to keep it up with 4-5 days a week of working out, which has been great and leaves me feeling good.

Well, it looks like things might have to change. My workout time at the gym is before work. Well I am going to have to alter my workout schedule since I was just asked to join a weekly research team meeting on Wednesday mornings. So this meeting is probably going to cut into my workout time. My workout time is timed just so that I can drop Baby Bear off at daycare, workout for 20-30 minutes (depends on how cooperative Baby Bear was that morning in getting out the door on time), shower and get ready, and then walk to my office (it is nice having a nice gym on campus). Having a meeting in the mornings means either cutting my workout time or not working out that morning.

I will see how I might be able to manage it. It is not the end of the world. Wednesdays I also do yoga, so I get two workouts in that day. So it might not be so bad. But it is a bit disappointing since I am not a fan of morning meetings. Work is work and I have to do it and be a team player

Wow, Life has been busy...

Well, actually there really isn't anything too interesting going on in my life except for work and family. But work has been keeping me very busy. The next few months are going to be pretty crazy at work and I am just trying to keep up with all. As you might remember, I started a new position in November and working in two departments through the end of June (well, actually until I go on maternity leave). It is a lot of work working two positions that should really be 2 full-time positions (Right now I am splitting my time between the two so it is supposed to be two half-time positions). I am surviving, just barely.

What is most difficult, is that I want to excel in both positions. Since I will be leaving my old position at the end of the fiscal year, I want to leave on a positive note. Especially, since I will still continue to interact and collaborate with this boss on campus. My boss has been so supportive of me and I want to continue to provide her with quality work during this transition time.

With my new position, I still feel like I have to prove myself. Sometimes, I feel like I have to prove myself a little more in my newer position simply because I am pregnant and informed them of my pregnancy just after starting this new position. I realize that they should not look at my performance differently, but I worry that I am scrutinized a little differently. My newer boss is a man and I have never had a male boss until now. He is also a father; he is very supportive of me and he is a family-friendly boss. Yet, never having a male boss, I worry that I must work a little harder to show him that he did not make a bad decision in hiring me.

I also don't want to appear like I am slacking off on either job because I will be going on maternity leave and I want my newer boss to feel confident that I will return (because I will). So trying to balance these two positions is a challenge and taking up a lot of my time. Then add a personal life and family to all that and that is enough to keep anyone busy. I do count myself very fortunate that in this time of economic crisis that I have a job and it is a job(s) that I enjoy. I am not complaining, I am just a little tired. I guess the pregnancy may also contribute to that exhaustion a little.

It's only Monday!

It was such an exhausting day at work today. And it is only Monday. If this is any indication of the rest of the week. Yikes!

On the bright side, I am taking a mental health day on Friday.

Back to work!

A New Job!

I have been concerned with the state of my current job. With the budgetary issues at work, there was a possibility that my current position would be eliminated or downsized to a part-time position. Since I work with the budget, I understood that there was a possibility that my institute might fold in a few years unless we were able to find a means to sustain through endowments or donors. My boss and my former boss were trying to find some solutions to keep me by restructuring my position to piece together a full-time position by working in different departments. I knew I was secure until June 30th, the end of the academic and fiscal year.

On Tuesday, I got a call about a new position on campus. This new position was being created at in another institute on campus and they thought of me for the job. They wanted to see if I was interested. This new position is actually a better fit for me and a great new challenge. It involves more focus on research and the opportunities to work with a lot of different people on campus. Plus, I would get to let go of some of my administrative responsibilities (like dealing with budgets, yuck!). So of course I was interested. Yesterday, I got the call that the position was approved and that I was approved for the position if I wanted. Without hesitation, I told them wanted it. They want me to start quickly, like next month. They did talk with my current boss and to allow for a seamless transition, they agreed that I will work 50/50 in the new position and in my current position for the rest of the academic year. Come July 1st, I will transition solely into the new job. I am so glad we were able to work this out so that I can still stick to the commitments I have in my current position. This will give my current boss the time to find my replacement (which because of the budget issues will become a part-time position) and train them.

I am so utterly excited. This is such wonderful news and this new position provides a lot more job security for me. I am so fortunate to have such great support. My boss, my former boss, and my new boss are excited for this new career move. I think it is a good one, not only does it provide me with the job security I need, it will be a great challenge to utilize my skills and allow me to work with other people around campus. It is a great move all around. I can't wait to start.

Mental Health Day

Yesterday, I took a mental health day. I have been so busy at work and training for the relay tri that I needed a day just to catch up with life. It would have been nice to rest and do absolutely nothing, but the reality was that I had a ton of errands to do and many things to take care of. I worked one weekend this month and I just never seemed to catch up from that day. Plus, sometimes the weekends are just not enough. I feel that I have been neglecting my blog. I hope that now that I am a little more caught up that I can get back into the groove.

Regardless of having to run errands, it was definitely a good day. I didn't have to really be accountable to anyone yesterday. It was nice not to be bogged down by work and to take care of things on my own schedule. I slept in and got to spend some time with the Chase Monster. Yes, it would have been nice to have the entire day to relax but knowing that I accomplished the many things that I had not been able to take care of in weeks was a nice feeling.

It is just after working all day, trying to fit in training and working out, and doing a few household chores, there is no time for anything else in the day and at the end of the day I am just too exhausted to do anything else. I think what I really need is a mental health week. Now that sounds like a great idea!

Back to reality and back to work I go.

Taper down for a busy, busy bear

That is me lately, a very busy bear. I am very glad that today is Friday, I am so looking forward to a restful weekend.

On top of work, I am training for the relay triathlon. My running partner and I decided that with the triathlon about 2 weeks away that we are going to start to taper off on our training. I feel like I have been going and going and I am absolutely exhausted. We won't stop running, but taper off the miles and I will cross train to allow our bodies to recuperate and recover for the big day. Many training schedules include a taper period. It is a very important part of your training. Here is an article that talks more about the importance along with a little research to back it up. There are many resources that reinforce the need to taper before the big event. Although it may sound counter-intuitive it actually makes you stronger.

According to the research Runner's World cites:

"The primary aim of the taper should be to minimize accumulated fatigue, rather than to attain additional physiological adaptations or fitness gains."

So the next two weeks will be time to taper my training. And I think my body is definitely telling me this. My legs are sore and I am tired. I am not marathon training, but I am running more that I have ever in my life and I am so much more prepared for this that I have been for any other race I've participated in. I am ready and by tapering my training, I will be well rested and prepared for race day!! Wohoo!

Back to School

It's that time of year where the schools are buzzing. I was a total nerd growing up. Although I always looked forward to summer break, I also loved the beginning of the school year. There is something so exciting about the beginning of a new school year. You get to start fresh in your classes and see friends that you weren't able to see over the summer break. You get to go back to school shopping for clothes and supplies. I love new clothes and for some reason I also love shopping for school and office supplies. There is something about new pens, notebooks, and binders that appeals to me. I like to be organized and the beginning of a school year allows me to start fresh and be organized. Plus, I love any excuse to shop. I have to admit that I still do a little back to school shopping, but I work on a college campus so I operate on an academic calendar and I can still justify it (or at least I try to justify it in my on mind).

Although I do work all year, the campus I work at is very quiet in the summer time, which is often nice after a busy academic year. So when September rolls around, I get to enjoy the beginning of a new academic year. I love when the students return and the campus is buzzing. On the down side, I seem to get another year older whereas the students all seem to stay the same age. Different students but they are still in that 18-22 year old range. Despite that it is always nice to have the students to return and to see the influx of new freshman on campus. The excitement dies down after a week or two, but it is nice to have the academic year cycle.

Bike to work

Being conscious of gas prices and the impact of vehicles on the environment, I have been thinking about riding my bike to work a couple times a week. I had been contemplating this idea for the last couple of months and finally decided that I just needed to go and do it. So last week, I rode my bike to work, twice! It was great and something I plan to continue to do 1-2 times a week. I actually rode my bike to work today!

I am fortunate to live about 5 miles from work and to have a bike path that is near my house and near my work. It takes me about 30 minutes to bike to work, so I leave about 15 minutes earlier than I usually do when I drive. Not only is it good for the environment, it is great for my health and keeps me fit. I get an hour of cardio in when I bike to work just for going to work and not really trying. I am not able to do this every morning at this point, but every little bit helps. Plus, now I can take advantage of my employer's transportation reduction incentive program that pays $1.50 each day I bike to work. So I save money on gas and I get paid. (Sure it is not much, but it is something!)

It is nice and cool in the mornings but I do get a little sweaty so I bring with me a change of clothes. I also keep a towel, baby wipes, deodorant, and make-up in my office to freshen up when I get into the office in the morning. It has worked out really well in the first week. I also keep a pair of shoes at work so that I have one less thing to carry with me on my commute.

There is actually quite a bit of information on the internet about bike commuters that is quite helpful. Here are some great tips I found from the Commute by Bike website (with some of my own commentary):

• Store hygienic necessities (e.g., deodorant, towels, wipes, etc) at the office - less stuff to carry back and forth
  
• Leave a pair of shoes at the office - then you won't have to transport it back and forth
  
• Take all your clothes for the week on Monday - I haven't done this yet but what a great tip especially if you only bike to work a few days. Drive to work on Monday with clothes for the week and you won't have to transport it with you on the days you bike to work.
  
• Always keep an extra set of clothes at the office - I need to do this. You never know when you might forget an essential item.
  
• Pack the night before - This is quite helpful so that you are not rushed and stress in the morning which may make you forget something important.
  

Lunch Break: I am not so alone

Thank you to those who left a comment to my post a couple weeks ago about taking a lonely lunch break. I've been so busy with life and work that I haven't had a chance to thank everyone for commenting.

I am glad to know that I am not alone. Thanks for the great ideas: reading a book and going for a walk. I do have some books I have been dying to read on my bookshelf, so this is a great opportunity to do that. I read so much in my work that I often do not have time to read for pleasure. I used to really enjoy reading for pleasure, so here is my chance. I've had this book on my bookshelf for a while:



It is by the same author as Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which I really enjoyed reading. (I haven't seen the musical Wicked and I am dying to see it!! Unfortunately, I don't think it is in our budget to see it. I am so sad that it will be leaving Los Angeles and that I am not going to get to see it before it goes, sigh! It is times like this that I hate being financially responsible and living on a budget. Oh bother.)

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Lunch break

I am very fortunate to have a very flexible job. Yet, like most people I generally take my lunch break around noon (mostly because that is when I am hungry). Occasionally, I will have lunch plans with a friend or a lunch meeting. But on days where I have nothing planned, which is most days, I usually bring my own lunch (to save on money and to be healthy) and eat by myself. I used to have lunch in my office, but since I have moved into an office without windows I really need to get out of the office now and then. So lately I have been heating up my lunch and eating at a table and bench outside. But, it really doesn't take me an entire hour to eat lunch and since I usually have lunch by myself, I don't know what to do with myself for the rest of the hour.

At my last job, we had a lunch room where most people brought their lunch to eat. So I ate with my co-workers. Since I work on a college campus, we do have a dining hall but they are closed during the summer so I don't have that type of space right now. I suppose I could go out and eat but I don't want to spend the money. Sometimes I will go run errands but I don't have to do that everyday and with the price of gas, I would rather stay around campus than drive somewhere. So, I usually end up having a short lunch then going back to my office. Sounds kind of sad now that I write this all out. I guess I wonder what other people do. Am I the only sad, lonely person who eats her lunch by herself? :(

What do you do during your lunch break?

So much to catch up on

Sorry that I haven't had the opportunity to post this week. Life has been pretty busy. I moved into another office at work yesterday and I have been unpacking. Moving is never fun or easy. I have been exhausted. The office is fine and it will work. My only problem with it is that it has no windows!! I loved my last office, it had so many windows and it was a great office. I was so sad to move, but I had no choice in the matter. Oh bother! I will have to find a way to adapt to the lack of window in this space.

What do you do for a living?

Some of you may or may not know that I am a psychologist. I am not a clinical psychologist, which is the type of psychologist that most people think of. There are many types of psychologists and I am a psychologist that does psychological research (on occasion I also teach college courses in psychology). I do not provide therapy or any clinical services.

It is sometimes difficult to answer the question, "What do you do for a living?" I usually answer that I am a psychologist and then I have to explain that I am not a clinical psychologist and what I actually do. In fact, my family (Mr. Bear and my parents included) don't even seem to know what I really do. They just know that I have a Ph.D. in psychology but do not really know what that means.

My training is in developmental psychology and I conduct research on issues that impact children and families. Currently, my research is focused on the issues of work and family, such as the impact of maternal employment on families, the impact of the decision of women to opt-out of the workforce, and the effect of paid family leave on the health and well-being of newborns and mothers.

I have tried to keep my professional life separate from this blog simply because this blog was somewhat of a reprieve from work. But I have some exciting news that I really wanted to share. For the last couple of years, I have been working with 2 colleagues on an edited book based on a conference we had a few years ago. The book is finally published and I am so excited. I wrote a section introduction and a chapter in the book, and I was a co-author to another chapter. The book is an interdisciplinary volume that examines the multiple realities of work and family from academic, commercial, and political perspectives. It probably isn't a book that the regular person will read since it is geared toward work-family researchers, but it does include interesting information and research on an array of topics that cover the broad field of work and family from various perspectives.

So for those of you who wondered what I do for a living. Well there you go. It never is easy to explain.