Tag: lifestyle

giraffe lifestyle, the view from above

Working from home: the ideal work environment or a lonely state of being?

by Arden Jobling-HeyLeave a Comment on Working from home: the ideal work environment or a lonely state of being?

home office
Sitting in bed this morning, gazing out my window only to see thick snowflakes fall by the dozen, it was easy to make the call that today – I would be working from home. As I watched my poor husband trudge outside to wipe snow off the hood of the car and make his way – at a snail’s pace – into the office, I felt bad for the guy! That was, until I went to turn my computer on only to find that the internet was down, “what the…?”. No internet means no work and one very big problem. So, I packed up my stuff and headed across the street for breakfast and access to high-speed WIFI courtesy of Aroma Espresso Bar.

After this unlikely series of events – having the ability to stay home and avoid the storm only to face the technological breakdown of a home internet system – I really started pondering the advantages and disadvantages of working from home. I myself am currently in what I believe to be the ideal situation, where I work from home three times a week and go into the office twice a week to mix with colleagues and get up to speed on anything I’ve missed. That being said, working from home can really go either way depending on your lifestyle and the job traits that matter most to you!

If you are contemplating working from home, here are a few things you may want to consider… Continue reading “Working from home: the ideal work environment or a lonely state of being?” →

giraffe lifestyle, the view from above

Ho ho ho-liday running: Can only the strong (or diabetic) survive?

by Arden Jobling-HeyLeave a Comment on Ho ho ho-liday running: Can only the strong (or diabetic) survive?
Ho ho ho-liday running: Can only the strong (or diabetic) survive?

Coming in from my run outside yesterday, I promised myself that that would be the last outdoor run of the season; my ears were tingling, my toes were numb and I found myself gasping to let in another mouthful of air. Considering I opted in for a “light” run which meant 4-5 km through residential uptown and then into the trails before circling round, I was shocked at how weak I felt as I walked through the front door! It felt more like my first run back after a tropical holiday than a jog that followed shortly in the footsteps of my first time ever winning a race (I was the first female to cross the finish line of the 5 Km “Santa Shuffle” at the beginning of December) and runs of 10 km + during my visit to Vancouver just weeks before (read more about discovering Vancouver, step by step here).

Yet here I was – three weeks later, doubled over wondering why the hell anyone would ever run outside during winter in Canada? And then (after convincing from many a friend that winter is, in fact, the best season to run outdoors) it hit me. It’s not the weather that is the problem with running in the wintertime; it’s me. I have been guilty of the three cardinal sins of winter running: indulgence, sloth and stupidity… read on.

The sweet life: a serious hazard to your health

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Continue reading “Ho ho ho-liday running: Can only the strong (or diabetic) survive?” →

the view from above

Brainstorming a Bucket List for the Everyday: What’s on your list?

by Arden Jobling-Hey15 Comments on Brainstorming a Bucket List for the Everyday: What’s on your list?
Brainstorming a Bucket List for the Everyday: What’s on your list?

Accepting that you won’t live to infinity – or beyond

I was in the car this morning on my way to work, when I popped in a CD from my carefree days at Ottawa University. In between Carrie Underwood belting out the lyrics to “Before he Cheats” and Sarah Brightman serenading me with a wicked rendition of “Deliver Me“, I came across a song by Tim McGraw’s  called “Live like you were dying”. If you know the song, you know that it’s all about what you would do if you knew your days were numbered. If you haven’t heard this song before, you can listen to it here.

As I listened to the familiar words of the song, I realized that while, to date, I’m extraordinarily content with where I am in every aspect of my life, there is always the possibility that I won’t be around – forever. My husband thinks talking about death is morbid. I, on the other hand, have a running list of music to play at my ‘celebration of life’ should I make an exit earlier than planned.

And thus, I started contemplating the makings of a Bucket List. When you actually down sit to write one, you discover that it’s a bit of a daunting task. Sure, there’s the obvious ones like travel: easy right? So where do you want to travel? Anywhere I haven’t been. No wait! I have to be more specific. South America? Oh, and Western Africa. And the Middle-East. Oh you mean countries! Argentina, Peru, Jordan, Kenya, etc. etc. etc…. and there goes the entire point of making a Bucket List in the first place. No, you can’t have it all. But yes, you can try.

It’s not easy to articulate the things you want most in the world. After all, including certain things means the exemption of others (or having a list as long as your arm). A few friends of mine have taken a more specific approach to the creation of a Bucket List. While one set a more generic “30 under 30” goal, challenging herself to visit 30 countries by the time she reached 30, another created a more specific “40 things to do before 40” and she’s well on her way to checking things off the list. While I’m currently working on my list. I have no idea what shape it will take, but I know that I need to see my goals on paper: it’s time.

The funny thing about compiling a gigantic sized Bucket List that includes everything you’ve ever wanted to accomplish is that many of the things that end up being put on that list aren’t as enormous as international travel, cost next to nothing, and could very well be accomplished every single day. Continue reading “Brainstorming a Bucket List for the Everyday: What’s on your list?” →