Thursday, November 19, 2009

Work vs. work out

Do you get physical symptoms of stress? I normally don't, but things have been super crazy busy at work and I've been getting up early to deal with is and am still feeling snowed under and, well, my right eyelid has started twitching sporadically, which only seems to happen to me when I'm extra stressed.

I suppose it could be worse. I mean, I'd rather my eyelid twitch every now and then than have my entire face break out with stress-induced acne, for example.

But still. No eyelid twitch is preferable to yes eyelid twitch, you know?

Luckily this weekend I should be able to take an actual work break. You know the stress is bad because I'm actually looking FORWARD to going to the gym. The idea of 30 minutes on the adaptive motion trainer with my workout playlist pumping sounds really, really nice right now. Almost nice enough for me to say screw it to the whole work thing and go there right now.

Unfortunately, the whole regular paycheck thing sounds EVEN NICER than a good workout in a nearly-empty gym. So, it's back to the grind with me.

21 comments:

  1. Yeah, that whole regular paycheck thing really cramps my style, too! Oh, the things I could be doing if I wasn't working.

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  2. Working out has always been a form of stress release for me. I think that's why I prefer working out after work than in the mornings. It gives this barrier between work and home. It's a place where I shed the stresses of the day. It allows me to walk into my home refreshed. Ready to relax.

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  3. I used to get those eyelid twitches all the time in college. SO ANNOYING.

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  4. Yup, I get the twitching. And a racing heart, which is what prompted me to consider meds. Sheesh, we all need to relax a bit, hey?

    Enjoy your weekend - the nice long workout sounds fabulous!

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  5. One time I got so stressed I broke out in HIVES. (which was NOT STRESSFUL AT ALL).

    Working out DOES sound great. I like it best if I can tell myself it's medicinal, too--i.e., not only is the workout itself a good antidote to workplace craziness, but the feeling of responsibly taking care of myself sort of salves the chapped-soul feeling.

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  6. I still get eyelid twitches too. SO annoying.
    The weekend is almost here!

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  7. Damn paychecks and their powers of control. I love when I'm looking forward to a workout - it happens so infrequently that it's a good feeling when it does!

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  8. I'm sure I do, but I don't know what those are.

    Hope the grind ends soon with you. So close to the holidays! My worst fear is that I'll have work to do during my 'vacation'.

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  9. I sure do! I have a neck issue from a car accident years and years ago and when I'm under stress it starts to hurt so much. Also, I get eye floaters when I'm under stress.

    When Jackson fell from that third story window in March I was under so much stress about it that the next day my entire body ached and I hadn't done anything physical except run up a few flights of stairs to get to him. Stress can really mess a person up. I truly belive that if it's not managed that stress can shorten a person's life.

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  10. I used to break out from stress when I was younger, but luckily not anymore. I usually get very tense in my shoulders when I am stressed, and I also get anxious. Sometimes I need to sit and make myself calm down!

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  11. Nothing beats a good workout after a long stressful day. I always feel so good and satisfyingly exhausted afterwards.

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  12. I'm with Nilsa. Working out (particularly a good dance class) is stress relief for me.

    As for physical symptoms of stress, they're all in my stomach. In the first few months of one job a co-worker stopped me in passing. When I said I was on my way to get lunch (it was 3pm), she said, "You look like you haven't had lunch...in about a month!" It was probably true. When I'm stressed, I can't eat.

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  13. My left eye ALWAYS twitches when I'm overloaded. So annoying!

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  14. wow, I get twitches and eye floaters too, but have never paused to think about if they are stress-related. Your blog is so helpful!

    and with this new insight about your stress level, I now understand why:

    1. you haven't called me back
    2. you have a typo in your post today (is vs. it)

    :-)

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  15. I internalize my stress completely. Until it totally locks up my neck muscles or I start to get an ulcer. Yeah...repression is bad, but it's what I do.

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  16. Is it weird that I actually kind of like it when I get the eye twitch? I've never had it for a prolonged period of time, so it might get old after awhile, but I do enjoy the occasional twitch. :-)

    Potassium is supposed to help with that. Bananas have it, and watermelon has a TON of it.

    Nothing relieves stress for me more than pumping some iron, going for a swim, or a long walk.

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  17. I totally get physical symptoms from stress. I've had the eye twitch, the arm muscle twitch, the lack of sleep, bags under my eyes, insomnia, acne, blah blah blah. When I am getting stressed I try to not drink alcohol, sleep more, and exercise.

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  18. :'( I have stress break outs. What should I do?:(

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  19. Ugh. I know exactly what you mean. I finally left a job that was making me miserable once after I realized that my eye had been twitching virtually non-stop for several weeks straight. I also find that working out is such a great tool for handling stress. I know this sounds weird, but sometimes I try to workout a little while I'm working if I really need to release some tension. This is only doable if you work from home like you do or have your own office. If you're on a conference call, for example, you can walk around and do lunges and squats while talking. While sitting at your computer, you can do butt squeezes and leg lifts. It really works.

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  20. Physical symptoms of stress? Oh yes. Lots of them. Bad skin, lank hair, flare-up of the IBS, headache...the list goes on. Exercise definitely helps and I would never prioritise work over my health. Though doing enough work to keep your job is probably a good idea. I imagine losing your job would be pretty stressful!

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  21. Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

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