Like the rest of us—though I should probably speak only for myself—I'd like to be a better person. I long ago gave up trying to become less selfish and self-centered. It was just too much effort. But I'm still eager to improve around the edges—for example, getting rid of my belly. So when I heard that Dr. Anup Kanodia was in town, I jumped, though only figuratively, at the opportunity to meet him.

Dr. Kanodia, a researcher at the Center for Personalized Health Care, part of Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, was going to be offering desk-side briefings on how workers can make over their work spaces so they can become more physically fit while on the job.

I wasn't sure he'd be able to help me, as I work in bed. I know this makes me sound like a diva, but I've discovered that the best way to pull off writing a column four days a week is to shut the door and crank out a first draft before the distractions of the day become overwhelming. It also leaves the afternoon to research upcoming pieces.

So I didn't see how Dr. Kanodia was possibly going to give my work space a makeover. What was he going to do, replace my bed with one that has vibrating fingers? Or nail a backboard over my closet so I could take jump shots between paragraphs?

Not wanting to embarrass him by lounging under the covers while he was taking measurements, or however he proceeds, I suggested we meet at The Wall Street Journal's offices. I did so even though I'm there only infrequently, and despite the fact that the challenges my work space there poses to a makeover are hardly less severe than those of my bed would be.