非常階段で健康管理　Staircase for our Health

English version of this post is available below.

こんにちは、3児ワーママのマミントンです 。 新年が明けて２週間が経とうとしています。緊急事態宣言が課せられ、リモートワークに戻る日々。出社しなければ歩く距離も縮むし、ジムも感染が怖いし（そもそもコロナ禍でない時期も色々と言い訳を作ってジムになんて行ってないし）、外は寒いし、確実に運動不足になりますね。

我が家はマンションの10階に住んでおりますが、今まで非常階段を使ったことは一度もありません。何も考えず、当たり前のようにエレベーターで移動していました。でも実はこの非常階段、無料で使える運動不足解消の味方かも！？10階分の階段を下りるだけなら５分以内（スマホで音楽を1曲聞き終わらないくらい）上りはもう少し辛いし息切れもしますが、１０分もあれば自宅の階まで到着できます。これは、毎日の生活に手軽に取り入れられる運動の習慣になるかもしれない（大好きなヨシタケシンスケさんの絵本「りんごかもしれない」風に）。

早速４日前に始めてみました。スーパーに買い物に行く場合は下りるときのみ階段を使い、買い物袋を持ち帰った際は無理せずエレベーターを使います。新しい刺激が大好きな子ども達も、見慣れない階段が興味深いせいか、疲れなど気にせず上り下りを楽しみます。

新年の新しい習慣、続くかな。４日間は続けているので、３日坊主にはならなかったけど。２月あたりには飽きてやめてしまっているかな。母ちゃん頑張るよ！

Hello, I’m Mamington, a working mom of three.

It’s been nearly 2 weeks since the arrival of 2021. The hopes for a fresh start diminished with the State of Emergency announcement and returning to working from home. Not going to the office obviously reduces the amount of walking that I do in a day, gym can be a risky place for infection (and it’s not like I had a habit of regularly going to the gym before the COVID-19 crisis anyways), it is cold outside and these elements result in complete LACK OF EXERCISE.

Our family lives in a cozy apartment complex on the 10th floor, but none of us have ever used the emergency staircase. We’ve just always used the elevator because it was right in front of us. But this staircase, could actually be a very handy and FREE facility for resolving this “lack of exercise” problem. Going down 10 flights of stairs for a health person in their 40s would only take 5 minutes (not even enough time to finish listening to 1 good song). Going up 10 flights of stairs could be slightly harder, but would not take more than 10 minutes. Using stairs could be my new health trick, a new habit!

And so I started this habit 4 days ago. When I go to the supermarket to pick up groceries, I use the stairs to go down but not ashamed to use the elevator to come back up (because I am carrying heavy groceries). Children love a new challenge, and an unfamiliar staircase triggers enough interest that they do not complain of tiredness and enjoy going up and down the stairs with me! Enlightment!

New year resolution never lasts for me. I usually give up after 3 days (but this has lasted 4 days, phew). I wonder if I am still continuing with this great habit in February. I hope I am. Let’s see!