It’s 3 a.m., and you’re hunched in front of your laptop, coffee-fueled and laser-focused on the logo you’re trying to finish for a client who doesn’t know what he wants. This is a usual scene in a freelancer’s life. Whatever your craft is, working from home gives you the freedom to work whenever and however you want, often exposing you to health risks without you realizing it. Success and money are nothing without health, so it’s time to put your health back on your priority list. Here are things you can do to stay healthy and well while staying on top of your freelancing game:
Sleep at night
You may be rolling your eyes right now, but this is a must. Constantly sleeping late and lacking deep, quality sleep increases your risk of stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and all sorts of expensive conditions. Now, you may be thinking, “I may sleep at 7 a.m., but I make sure to sleep 8 hours, so I’m good.” Nope, you’re not. Studies have shown, again and again, that the timing of your sleep matters as much as its length. The deepest and most regenerative sleep occurs between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Not getting a deep sleep will leave you feeling fatigued and drained even as you wake up in the morning. Hence, not sleeping at the right time actually compromises your creativity and productivity, and not the other way around.
Don’t eat whatever’s left in the fridge
Seriously, don’t eat that weeks-old leftover cheese for lunch. You have to consume real, healthy meals to stay healthy and well-functioning. A balanced meal consists of the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber.
A lot of freelancers get lost in the moment and skip a meal without noticing it. Being busy is a common reason for failing to eat healthy meals. An effective workaround here is signing up for an organic prepared food delivery service. You can have meals prepared with organic, fresh ingredients delivered straight to your door, so you can consume your required vitamins and minerals despite your busy schedule.
Don’t sit at your desk for too long
You may have heard of the phrase, “Sitting is the new smoking.” In a lot of ways, it is. Sitting too long has been found to increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and more. Moreover, if you sit too much, your brain can start to look like that of someone with dementia.
Even if you exercise, it’s still not going to undo the harms of sitting too long. Thus, every 20 minutes or so, get up and walk around the house. Do a quick exercise, or walk around the neighborhood. You can also shift to a sit-stand table so that you can work while standing after sitting for a while.
Staying healthy as a freelancer may take a lot more work than you think, but it’s going to be worth it. Investing time and money into your health is as important as investing in your profession as it can save you from a lot of pain and health expenses down the road.