the importance of being social

​homeplaceofthefuture daily log 5200

The homeplaceofthefuture has been a busy place these past few weeks with trips, trips and more trips. Events, conferences, in-person meetings all seem to pop up at the same time and I’ve had to play eeny meany miny mo for where to go and who else could go in my place – last I checked most of us can’t be in 2 or 3 places at once and if you can be please reach out to me, I’ve got an opportunity of a lifetime.
 
In-between these bursts of activity and having to be presentable in my non-homeplaceofthefuture uniform, I have been deliberate in getting up more and being active….and I hope you have been too. In September I felt my age and then to get these health updates around my bloodwork I have been determined to mix up my working from home routine. Averaging 8000 steps a day and eating way less meat, how much is way less? Let’s just say I have cried at some work dinners where I’ve gotten the chicken or fish vs. the steak. First world problems I know, but boy is it tough!
 
Let’s cover one last piece of the health puzzle and it is social. Working from home is isolating. Most of my conversations all day are directly related to work and much less about sports, technology or really anything not related to work. The longer and longer I sit at home I am finding that I really like my home and I’m grumpy when I have to leave – there is a comfort that has set in and a sense of being bothered when I have to be presentable. I am so used to getting my job done in my space, in my uniform and with my pets at my feet that the thought of going anywhere makes me question the why. 
 
In the early years of the homeplaceofthefuture there was definitely a dark spurt of never leaving and feeling sorry for myself – I know this is common for all of us. Once you realize it, you have to make some changes and that includes going somewhere. Mrs. Homeplaceofthefuture never lets me pass up a guy’s game night or a tap takeover at the local bar – anytime there is an invite to go somewhere socially I have an encouraging spouse that says GO! Does it mean I go out all the time? Absolutely not, but I find that just having something in the books every other week is good enough for me socially during the week to branch out. Other homeplaceofthefuture folks I know will go out to dinner almost nightly just to get out of the house – whatever you need to do to get out of the house and ideally be with other people is encouraged.
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• Does being social help with cholesterol? Doubtful.
• Does being social help with stress? Depends on what kind of people you’re with?
• Does being social help, me stay skinny? See first question above.
• Does being social help with hygiene? Yes, you took a shower I hope
• Does being social help me realize there is still a life outside of my home office? YES

 
Pretty simple concepts here from a pretty simple guy who works from home. Go for a walk, eat less meat and for God’s sake take a shower and hang out with some people.