Lessons I Learned at the Warehouse 003

5. A milk crate can be used as a chair.

I worked in the freezer department at the warehouse for two years. There is this warm room next to the freezer doors, where a runner can walk from the negative ten to the one-hundred-degree room and defrost. I enjoyed my time inside this room. At these times, the rest of the freezer crew had the same idea. The warm room is a small bathroom size room, so three to four people can make it feel pack. The warm room has only a bench to sit on for just enough for the four people. But, the freezer crew is seven or more so, somebody is sitting on the floor. There were milk crates stolen from repacking once flipped can be used as a chair. Taller people need two milk creates to sit but, the improvised chair worked for the five minutes you are allowed in the warm room.

What is the point? Humans will find ways to relax. Items or places that are not designed to be used for a break room to find a place to sit.

6. Beware, energy drink addiction is real.

The first time I tried an energy drink was back in college. I stood in front of a green vending machine inside, is a bright red can, why not as I shrugged my shoulders. The smooth, rich caramel taste was the best but, the buzz in your brain and body snapped you back to your childhood. As kids, we had all the energy in the world, that is what an energy drink taste and give back to you.

There is a stigma people say you can't get addicted to energy drinks. They're not drugs.

Ture. But, studies have shown both sugar and caffeine are considered to be drugs. With real withdrawal symptoms like headaches and mood swings, the very same symptoms you get if you are continually drinking them.

I started drinking them every day when I started, in the freezer. Back then, my work schedule was Monday to Friday, four to midnight or longer if needed. It changes as I drank an energy drink on the weekends. My brain begs for them everyday body doesn't need. I had no second job. Now, to relax, I drink one slow in the morning related to smoking a cigarette.

Cigarettes are what drove the warehouse back when I started fourteen years ago. Today, the warehouse cafeteria has all the energy drinks and the latest flavors in their coolers.

What is the point? Energy drinks addiction shame may not go away any time soon. But there are alternatives to choose from that have no sugar, less caffeine, and better-tasting in an organic sense. Try a tea. The organic store has healthy energy pills you can choose from.

7. Running is a marathon, not a spirit.

As I have said in another lesson, a runner is an order selector. My co-works would enjoy challenging each other in a race. Running for their assing pallet jacks or for money. How the terms of the race were set up is a determinant of three categories: cases, minutes, and percentage. People used to race for a whole paycheck. I would race-walk for an energy drink or lunch.

Our team leaders would race departments grocery vs. produce was very common. Racing on Friday was really popular because it was a light volume of cases and people actually wanted to leave early. Another race I would enjoy doing was close to the end of the night team leader Dan would shout on the inter comm, telling everyone how many orders were left to pick. And the person to pull the last would get a lunch card. A lunch card was a free lunch.

But these races needed energy at the end of the week, and we started on a Monday. In other words, you need to pace yourself throughout the workweek. If you didn't pace yourself correctly, then you would lose races on Fridays. This doesn't mean you should run below a hundred but understand your body limits. How hard can I run? Tran up to that limit and pace the week out for Race Day.

What is the point? Racing is healthy competition with an incentive. Don't push yourself to injury. Tran up or conserver your energy for the week to bet people on Race Day.