Every morning when I enter my building at work there is almost always a line of people waiting for the elevator. I always take the “road less traveled by” and bang a left to the stairs. I work on the 5th floor which really doesn’t seem like much effort. Although, I will admit that when carrying my laptop bag, my gym bag, lunch and purse it can really get you breathing by the 4th and 5th floors. I’m always puzzled why people think it’s strange or “good of me” to take the stairs. I’m healthy, I’m fit and my legs aren’t broken. So why would I take the elevator? As far as I’m concerned I sit all day at a desk so I may as well move a little in the morning! And to boot, the elevator isn’t always quicker. Just last week I walked into the building at the same time as one of my coworkers. She went right, and I went left to the stairs. Not only did a get little extra cardio boost on my Friday morning, but I got upstairs before her, had my jacket off and my laptop on my desk before she even got into the office. By the time you wait for the elevator to arrive and then drop people off at the floors below you, you could be at your destination!
I’ve never been a fan of elevators to begin with. A. If that sucker breaks down and I get stuck, there will be a major panic attack happening. B. I already mentioned that my legs aren’t broken. I don’t want to take for granted the fact that I can walk, run, climb stairs and move! C. I’m a total germaphobe. A study shows one of the dirtiest surfaces are the buttons in an elevator. No offense people, but I simply don’t want to touch the nasty buttons everyone else has touched.
In my old apartment I lived on the 3rd floor. There was no elevator. I used to walk across and down the street and up 3 flights of stairs with a weeks worth of groceries. 3 flights, 5 flights, 10 flights. I’m more apt to take the stairs than an elevator any day. So the next time you are faced with the option of stairs vs an elevator you should ask yourself, “Why take the stairs when I’m perfectly capable of climbing the stairs and getting in some added cardio?!” Don’t ever take for granted an opportunity to move your body, be healthy and take “the road less traveled by!”
Happy climbing readers! 🙂