On Guilt
Lesa Lorenzen-Huber is the interim director for the Center on Aging and Aged in IUB's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Do I feel guilty when I leave the office at 11:30 every day to work out? You bet. While my undergraduate daughter may feel guilty for NOT working out, I feel guilty about leaving the office to work out. The culture here at IU and across much of the US sees something almost holy about working 10 hour days and most weekends. Taking time off to work out seems indulgent, almost sinful and most certainly like skipping out of school.
To show you how yellow-bellied I am about my workouts, here's what I say when I leave the office, "I'm going to lunch." Everyone knows I'm going to work out, but I can't bring myself to say it. The guilt stays with me all the way to the door and sometimes as far as the parking lot. How do I keep moving? I move forward because I know by the time I get to the gym and get in my "play clothes" the guilt is long gone. Everyone around me at the gym has also recessed from the office, library, or classroom. We recite our rationalizations to each other: "I'm so much more productive after I work out." "I don't take lunch." "I come in early." We shore each other up as we work out and then head back to work.
Re-entering the office brings on another wave of guilt. They have all been there working while I've been working out. I slide in quietly, get right to work and after a few minutes the guilt is gone. In its place are a clear mind and a focused agenda for the afternoon. I'm in a good mood and ready to tackle some challenges. You know what? I really am so much more productive after I work out!
