The Beauty of Mid-Day Escapes
Posted on 28 March 2010 | By Dottie |14 Comments
Did you know that sitting all day is as unhealthy as smoking or sun over-exposure? After reading about that study, I feel like even bicycling to and from work every day is not enough to make up for all my sitting. Bike commuting is an amazing activity for consistent exercise, but on average totals only one hour of my day. I have a desk job and many activities I enjoy after work – reading, blogging, watching movies – are sedentary.
In an effort to make my lifestyle more active (no gyms, please!) I often spend my lunch hour walking around downtown Chicago, even if the weather is rainy or freezing. An additional benefit is escaping the office and enjoying life. I take pictures, watch people, window shop or duck into a coffee shop to read. As temperatures rise, I find myself integrating the bicycle into my lunch breaks for a little extra work day escape.
On Friday, Betty and I sailed a couple of miles to enjoy fresh macaroons, but sometimes I venture farther afield. The pictures below are from a long escape earlier this month, which I wrote about here, but it took me a while to develop and scan the pictures from my Diana Mini camera.
The thought of missing out on such adventures in favor of watching TV in the break room or eating at my desk is unbearable. I think everyone would be a whole lot happier if we all enjoyed mid-day escapes in the fresh air more often – preferably with a bicycle 
Related posts:
- Mother Nature Rejects Ladies' Critical Mass All day at work, watching the gorgeous weather from my...
- Defrost Chicago is in defrost mode and the snow is becoming...
- Bike, Sun, Beauty, Happiness! Forget winter – today was the best day of the...
- Heating Up A fresh drink of water – my parched mouth would...
- Bike Commuting is Fun! After starting a new job, I’m reminded of the fun...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Comments
14 Comments
SPONSORS
Summer Games Players
Recent Posts
Looking for something?
Lively Conversations
- Jerk Season (138)
- Announcing the LGRAB Summer Games (130)
- How To: Bike Commuting in a Suit (113)
- Bike Cycle: Doomed to Repeat History? (101)
- Hand Signal Debate (91)
- Beautiful Bicycles: My Workcycles Azor Oma (91)
- I Believe in Peace, B_ _ _ _ (87)
- The Bike Commuter Stereotype (86)
- Stop, Collaborate and Listen (85)
- Out of My Way, Boys! (83)
- Getting Serious About Bicycling Safety (82)
- Beautiful Bicycles: Bakfiets (a real S.U.V.) (81)
- Bicycles on a Budget (78)
- Bicycling On Ice: My Studded Tires (76)
Discussion Leaders
- dukiebiddle
- Dave
- Lovely Bicycle!
- neighbourtease
- cycler
- Amy
- Miss Sarah
- Amanda Z from NYC
- Tinker
- Simply Bike
- Scott
- Cherilyn
Recent Comments
- scott t on Why Bike Lanes Are Bad For Drivers' Expectations
- The Tiny Homestead on Accepting Fault
- Jeanette on Accepting Fault
- Emily on Accepting Fault
- erin on Accepting Fault
Archives
Our Story
More LGRAB
Beautiful Bicycles
How-To
Style
Dottie’s Chicago Guide
Bike Blog Universe
Dream Camera: Dottie’s Photo Blog
[...] someone who spends all day in front of a computer, I found this article [...]
I needed one today. So tempting just to stay home, but nope, out I went on my bike! I bumped into some people I know so it was good. Besides the sun is out, so why should I spend the day inside lazing around.
I work from home, so if I don’t get out in the middle of the day I don’t get any exercise at all that day. I find that taking a long break involving exercise in the middle of the day not only feels good physically, but helps me be more focused for the remainder of the work day. But, if the weather is uninspiring I sometimes have a hard time finding the motivation to get out (coming up with a destination helps, but doesn’t always work). I definitely feel that it is unhealthy not only to sit so much, but to be staring a computer screen so much.
I agree! In fact, I left my desk job in favor of an outdoors job for the same reasons. Now I bike to work just to get even more time not sitting and more time in the fresh air. I always feel more alert, energetic, and happy after riding.
Amen, sista!
well, mid-day cycling trips are out for me due to the horridly humid weather here in singapore, but walking around town taking pictures sounds fun/do-able enough… thanks for the ideas Dottie! wonderful pictures btw!
I agree! I take walks almost every day at lunch during the summer. It’s not scenic or in a downtown area, but it still gets my body moving.
the diana mini is amazing! want.
And on that note, I’m going out for a mid-day ride! Those film photos are wonderful.
I love your Diana pictures, especially the one with the ship.
Super photos from the Diana mini, and a great way to spend the lunch hour.
Dottie, If you’re ever in LA/Santa Moncia an entire store/gallery devoted to lomography: http://mondette.com/rosewoodandmartel/2010/03/31/shops-sign-up-for-lomographys-new-workshops/
Hi dottie, You do a lot of the same things that I do – when I’m not recovering from a broken wrist that is – take, photos, walk, etc. Your photos are always great!
Love, Gram xx
I just cycled up to Richmond park, (London, UK) in the sunshine and had a quiet 5 minutes staring at the trees, ducks and lake, then got slightly lost and whizzed through trees back to the park gates and then along the Thames path back to Twickenham. Just wonderful, this was the spot http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=isabella+plantation,&sll=51.44272,-0.272947&sspn=0.003618,0.011689&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&split=1&filter=0&rq=1&ev=zi&radius=0.25&hq=isabella+plantation,&hnear=&ll=51.44272,-0.272947&spn=0.003618,0.011689&t=h&z=18