One thought on “Labour of love”

1. Jason, I happened to catch a bit of your special on Labour Day and was pleased to learn that I’m not the only one who has decided that sitting for endless hours each work day is not for me. I am an active person and it was bugging me that I had to sit at a desk to work. I found myself fidgeting constantly, and often had cold hands and numb feet. I was known to wear fingerless gloves and my heater regularly blew the fuse. At first I switched up the standard office chair with a ball and occasionally stood at a podium to work, although this still was not active enough. I longed to bring in my treadmilI, but I wasn’t sure how it would be perceived by others. Finally, after test driving a work surface attached to the treadmill and walking while using a laptop at home, I ran the idea by my administrator. My school provides online learning opportunities and is on the edge of educational change, so I was hopeful my idea would be viewed as progressive. Success! With approval, I moved my desk out of my office, moved the treadmill in, rearranged my monitor and laptop, and started walking at work. At first there were rolled eyes and talk behind hands, but now no one seems to notice. I walk all day and I’ve been doing so for that past 6 months. I find that I am more productive than before, I am never cold, and no longer have tingling feet or freezing fingers. There was no cost to my employer and there is talk about others doing the same eventually. Happy trails!
   Maryka
   Secondary Distance Education Teacher