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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
Freelancing – the often-coveted lifestyle that seems flawless and self-governing when we see others living it. And yet, the nature of the work is such that it requires impervious willpower and self-discipline, as well as endless sources of motivation to help you stay sane and above all else, healthy, both physically and emotionally.
The work-life balance of a freelancer is a fickle notion. It is a shapeshifter, otherwise it wouldn’t survive the equally volatile nature of the work itself. And in order for you to make the most of your freelancing career and your amazing life, there are several crucial steps in taking care of your health to maintain the ever-changing scales at a balance.
In This Post:
1. Set clear boundaries
As a writer, I would often find myself stuck in a limbo that is neither my personal, nor my work space, and thus my home can feel as if I’m never leaving the office. On the up side, I do love my work, and I enjoy it profusely, but for my romance with language and creativity to last, I had to learn to create both physical and mental barriers between my selfhood and my work.
If possible, have a designated work laptop, work desk and an entire work area or a room that will serve as your creative oasis. Build it with a sense of responsibility and a personal touch that will have you look forward to going back to it every day.
However, these boundaries need to account for every aspect of your life, so think in details and be your own boss – log out of your professional accounts outside of your work hours, keep a separate schedule for work, turn off email and social media notifications that are work-related, and the personal ones while you work. While it might seem possible to juggle everything at once at first, in time, the sheer amount of work will overwhelm you and affect your productivity.
2. Pump your planning muscle
Freelancers need to be the masters of organization, from building a solid, yet flexible work schedule for your short-term as well as long-term responsibilities, all the way to developing their own business strategy, maintaining a social life, and not to mention all those workouts, healthy munchies and self-development efforts. How can you make time to learn a new language or meditate if you can barely manage meeting your project deadlines?
Creating a structure is essential, and this means enforcing healthy habits that will only allow you to grow professionally and as a human being. For instance, my work schedule has a certain level of flexibility, but I still have a precise idea of how much I need to get done daily and weekly, and how much I can get done in no more than eight hours a day.
Moreover, I work out four days a week, which means I get to choose when, but I treat them as seriously as a doctor’s appointment – no skipping. Sleep is yet another aspect of my life that used to suffer greatly, until I introduced a routine – seven to eight hours every night, and I do my best to go to bed and wake up roughly at the same time in order to protect my health and keep my circadian rhythm in balance.
3. Get off the couch – regularly
You’ve probably noticed one very persistently present element throughout the listed pieces of advice? Exercise is one of, if not the crucial element of that elusive balance for a freelancer. Unlike your office worker, a freelancer who lacks structure in the first place will easily get lost in the hours of work interspersed with Facebook scrolling and messaging. Days can go by without so much as a single walk in the park, let alone a well-planned workout.
You like group classes and you need guidance? Sign up for a dance, yoga or an aerobics class or a team sport in your area. You prefer to fly solo? Marital arts, jogging, hiking or lifting weights at the gym can do wonders for you. Either way, structure is once again the key element that will determine how well you will stick to your fitness routine, stay healthy and cope with the stress of your daily life. Needless to say, invest in some proper gym clothes, and let them serve as an inspiration to get off the couch even when you don’t want to.
Unlike group classes, individual training sessions without a personal trainer by your side require you to invest time and effort into assessing your fitness levels, defining your goals (whether or not you want to lose or gain weight, improve your endurance, or tone your muscles) and creating a workout plan such as a HIIT routine, or a weight-lifting split to best suit your needs. You can do them at home or alternate between them, but self-discipline will be of the essence of consistency.
4. Become a meal prep master
Like clockwork, every Saturday afternoon is reserved for grocery shopping, and Sunday morning for planning and making my weekly meals. Had I not made this lovely hack a part of my life, I would have been certifiable by now. Meal prepping saves hours of my time, so I can work, train, sleep and see my friends during the week, and still eat healthy, otherwise I would have to resort to less healthy eating options.
Depending on your own work, you can allocate a whole day for your meals, cook your meat, boil your eggs, steam your veggies, pack your snacks, freeze the meals for the end of the week so that they don’t go bad, chop, dice, mince, wash and pack everything you possibly can in advance. If you put every lunch in a separate container, that will help you have a clear idea of how much food you need on a weekly basis and tweak your shopping list accordingly.
5. Mind your munchies
Cravings can be your worst enemy when you sit at a desk for hours on end, and your brain can easily mistake boredom for hunger and tempt you into eating a bowl of those delicious chocolate cookies or salty chips. And despite your best efforts at the gym, your body cannot flush out all the excess calories and artificial ingredients these processed foods are chock-full of, so you’ll easily compromise your health.
There’s no secret potion or a super-complex strategy to help you regain control of your eating habits. You simply need to take control, ditch processed foods, and clean out your stash, wherever you may be hiding those yummy treats! Surround yourself with healthy alternatives, such as nuts, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade protein treats, and always keep a full bottle of water by your side.
When you stay hydrated, you’ll not crave useless junk food as much, and in time, a balanced diet combined with regular physical activity and enough rest will allow you to fuel your creative freelancing efforts much more efficiently. A single decision cannot do the trick – you need to create an entire system that supports your healthy lifestyle and your work will feel the merits of your every choice.
The key takeaway?
Striving for perfection can be as harmful as leaving everything to chance. Instead, stay focused on your priorities, always make time for the things and people that make you happy, and you will be able to lead a well-balanced, somewhat insane freelance life, as you’ll be equipped with the power to tackle every setback that comes your way.
