…or at least it will be one month on Monday. Seems strange to say it.
Anyway, now that I’ve had a month I am evaluating the… challenges (not issues, challenges!) involved, to see if I can figure out some solutions.
• I have a sitting desk. This is… really bad.
• I have to wear formal clothes. Right now my only formal shoes are heels, and they’re messing with my ankles.
• Being in a windowless office is difficult. I’ve gotten used to natural light.
• I have access to a microwave and refrigerator, but no sink. It’s surprising how many things you need a sink for.
• All the food on campus is expensive and unhealthy.
• The commute leaves me reeealllly stressed out, especially in the afternoon.
So far I’ve arranged to pack my lunch every day, which is good. And I get out for at least one walk (sometimes two) to get some sunlight and exercise. I try to do stretches in my office, but the sitting desk thing is harsh. It’s bad for my joints and my energy level. The heels… bleh. I need to go shoe shopping. The commute will get better in fall when Child goes to a closer school.
It’s all manageable. The biggest problem right now is the desk situation.
It’s a pretty place to work, though. The university’s in a constant state of renovation. Today I toured the new Student Center, which they tumbled not long after I stopped working here over a decade ago. The new one is… beautiful but terrifying. Lots of balconies, catwalks, and floating stairs with only the narrowest wire railings. I forced myself to go through the whole place because I wanted to see it, but my fear of heights eventually overwhelmed me and I had to make my way back down via elevator instead of the stairs. And I had to look down at the floor all the way to the elevator, even, because the bridges got too unnerving.
Some of you asked for photos… here are some!
The glass panel railings on the staircases on the left are… only on the staircases on the left. The remaining staircases and balconies all get those naked wires. You can stick your hand through the gaps.
Note the floating staircase on the right there. It’s got air on either side of it, it’s not flush to the window wall.
This is one of the fourth-floor study areas. That rail there is the only thing between the couch and a four-story drop.
Fortunately I don’t work in this building, or I’d need tranquilizers just to get to my office. :,
Anyway. I am working on the challenges. Not having to worry so much about where the money’s coming from is a relief, though I miss Child a lot.
I am curious to see the suggestions you get for the sitting desk issue–I’m used to a sitting desk, and have optimized the desk I have at work as best I can, but… it still could use a lot of improvement. (Though getting up reasonably frequently to refill my water bottle/fetch prints for people/find excuses to be up that seem at least tangential to work helps!) So I’m curious to see what comes up. :)
(You’re in data entry too, right? I seem to recall something about that. My wrists in particular get to bugging me… I asked my coworkers for advice, but apparently the ones I asked just don’t have the problem. Thinking of getting one of those padded/gel strips you put in front of your keyboard to rest your wrists on…)
Oh! And if you’re the sort who can resist something even though it’s RIGHT THERE (you seem like you would be), I might suggest stashing a few shelf-stable jaguar-friendly treats in your desk for when the lunch you’ve packed for the day just doesn’t end up getting you through the whole day. (Jerky? It took me a while, but I eventually was able to stash my desk with enough Caitlin-friendly food that I even offer it to others who are feeling the lack.)
(Not that they take me up on it often. I guess most people don’t like instant oatmeal as much as I do?)