Running your way to better health
I came to the realization this morning that among all of today's appliances and machines, the elevator is by far the most infuriating.
As I rushed to the elevator that I expected would carry me to the highest floor of my dorm building, I was followed closely by four Hopkins students who promptly pressed the buttons for stops on floors one, two, three and four.
Forget it, I'll take the stairs, I thought, glaring at their backs and pushing towards the elevator door. Who the heck takes the elevator up just one floor?
The answer is, a lot of people. Let's call this tendency to avoid any extra physical exertion the "elevator attitude." It's especially prevalent among hyper-stressed Hopkins students who are convinced that they cannot possibly spare an extra minute or two from their overbooked lives to devote to physical activity between orgo labs and bio lectures.
The "elevator attitude" gives us an excuse to avoid stairs at all costs and to skip the trip to the gym in order to squeeze an extra hour of sleep out of a busy day. But be warned! Possible side effects of the "elevator attitude" include climbing stress levels and weight gain. For those of us whose most rigorous physical activity consists of vigorously typing out a reading response paper or sprinting to beat a competitor to an unclaimed desk on M Level, an attitude adjustment is in order. Here are a few simple and easy ways to improve your fitness while at school:
Climb the stairs
For students living in one of the multi-story dorms or apartments that surround Hopkins's campus (that is, everyone who does not live in the AMRs), the elevator is always an option. But do yourself and fellow elevator-riders a favor next time you return to your room and take the stairs instead. It's a small change in habit that will cost you on average only a minute or two out of your day, and you'll improve circulation, burn a few extra calories and work your calves, quads and glutes in the process.
As I rushed to the elevator that I expected would carry me to the highest floor of my dorm building, I was followed closely by four Hopkins students who promptly pressed the buttons for stops on floors one, two, three and four.
Forget it, I'll take the stairs, I thought, glaring at their backs and pushing towards the elevator door. Who the heck takes the elevator up just one floor?
The answer is, a lot of people. Let's call this tendency to avoid any extra physical exertion the "elevator attitude." It's especially prevalent among hyper-stressed Hopkins students who are convinced that they cannot possibly spare an extra minute or two from their overbooked lives to devote to physical activity between orgo labs and bio lectures.
The "elevator attitude" gives us an excuse to avoid stairs at all costs and to skip the trip to the gym in order to squeeze an extra hour of sleep out of a busy day. But be warned! Possible side effects of the "elevator attitude" include climbing stress levels and weight gain. For those of us whose most rigorous physical activity consists of vigorously typing out a reading response paper or sprinting to beat a competitor to an unclaimed desk on M Level, an attitude adjustment is in order. Here are a few simple and easy ways to improve your fitness while at school:
Climb the stairs
For students living in one of the multi-story dorms or apartments that surround Hopkins's campus (that is, everyone who does not live in the AMRs), the elevator is always an option. But do yourself and fellow elevator-riders a favor next time you return to your room and take the stairs instead. It's a small change in habit that will cost you on average only a minute or two out of your day, and you'll improve circulation, burn a few extra calories and work your calves, quads and glutes in the process.
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