Exercise When You Have No Energy, and other stories

Tired. What to do when one is tired. I think that says a lot about a person, and the state that they're in.

I think that leads to another question, though--

What do you do when you're tired?

This summer has been interesting, in good ways. Life has basically been work, being with my wonderful girlfriend, and exercise - and now add a class during the Summer term. A lot more relaxing than last summer, for sure.

But sometimes, I really just have no energy. And that's when Age of Empires and Netflix look really appetizing, and a pizza and tall glass of milk are like the medicine.

The dirty, dirty medicine which you regret a few seconds after ingesting.

You know, it's hilarious. I value some things very highly - relationships (with God, family, friends, coworkers, etc.), learning, "mastery"/improvement, etc. Physical fitness plays strongly into this, but sometimes I find myself fighting a funny battle between exercise (which sometimes goes from enjoyable and meaningful to seeming like a second job) and eating habits (which feels similarly).

Oof. It probably seems like a stupid, trivial thing, but sometimes I wish it were easier to just get a stupid six-pack already. And let me eat a piece of pizza, dang it.

But then, I'm actually grateful for the difficulty of it all.

There, I said it.

I like it that every time I eat a Skittle I feel like an atomic bomb just went off in my spleen. Well, maybe that's a stretch. Let's try this again.

I like that eating pizza tastes pretty good, but then I pay the price. I like dietary repentance.

I like learning how to make a delicious salad, or awesome scrambled eggs that transcend the senses (just ask my sister). And no, they're not spiked.

And that brings me to my initial question:

What do you do when you're tired? 

Like I said, certain video games and something to watch are typically my go-to things. I'm not exceptionally proud of that, and for quite a while I've been trying to get back into reading, or heart surgery - something low-stress, simple, etc.

But then, is it so bad to have "I'm tired vices"? Can they serve a good purpose?

If I can be frank with myself, I lack the desire, ability, and time (and perhaps the mustache) to become a professional Age of Empires competitor. I don't think Ebert is giving up his job anytime soon, and so watching movies that way is probably not going to become a career (plus I have no talent to do what he does).

But I still do it. I feel "in control" when I fall to my "vices". I feel like I can relax, think, watch others do things, or even create things myself. That's a pretty good feeling!

Here's an idea for you to consider, and I'd like to hear your thoughts, if you have the time:

It's not a sin to rest; 

It's not a sin to stop. 

Yes; life's a giant test, 

But

Don'tgiveuponeverythingjustbecauseyou'veeatentoomuchpizzaandyoudon'tseeawaytoburnitoffbecauseyou'retootiredandyoudon'twanttoexercise;rather,keepgoingandyou'llseethatitallgetsbetterintheend.

Just keep pushing, 

But don't push too hard, 

Or you might pop. 

And that hurts. 

And remember - because the first few lines started to rhyme, I feel obligated to listen and obey like the blind peon I am. Uuuuuuuuuuuuh. 

That's science, everyone. 

Aaand that's the end for today. 

DO STUFF! BE HAPPY! But don't get too worried if you get tired sometimes. Just make a new goal, and even allow yourself a cheat meal along the way. 

That'll be the subject of the next post - cheating. 

Y'alls are the business. 

-Jacob