5 Easy Ways to Avoid Health Issues As a Freelancer
It can be hard to maintain your healthy when you are ever busy, especially if you are busy as a work-at-home freelancer.
Although freelancers are able to set their own work hours and work schedule, in reality it doesn’t always play out as one would want.
Oftentimes, freelancers struggle to maintain the right work-rest balance when working from home and a deadline is coming fast. But, it is vital to take care of your own health.
Tips to Take Care of Your Health When Working from Home
Working from home means that you are already less active than other people who have to go out every day to get to their workplace and back.
Moreover, working as an online freelancer means that you likely spend all your working days seated in front of a computer working. You're straining your eyes sitting there infront of the computer, staring at the screen for hours, and not getting enough physical activity.
This type of a sedentary lifestyle can bring unpleasant consequences, ranging from weight gain to muscle strain and various other maladies. That's why it’s vitally important for work-at-home workers to mind their health.
To help you mind your health, here are some easy tips you can use to take better care of yourself and avoid health issues.
1. Create a Fixed Work Schedule
Not all freelancers have a schedule. Some prefer working when they feel like doing so – for example, in the morning one day and in the evening the other day. While not having a schedule might seem more pleasant and less stressful than a fixed one, it isn’t always good for you. When you don’t have a schedule, you might find yourself working more than you should and or also putting aside your daily health routines because you suddenly have too much work to do.
So, create a schedule and stick to it. It can stabilize your life and allow you to find more time for things that actually matter to your overall wellbeing and health, such as physical exercise. For example, If you know that you finish working at 4 PM each day, you can easily schedule a gym for 6 PM and be sure you won’t miss it.
2. Work Out, but Not at Home
Exercise is good for our health, but it could be dangerous too if you don’t know how to do it correctly. If you aren’t experienced in proper workout routines, I recommend going to a gym instead of working out at home. Gym coaches will show you how to do everything right and avoid injuries and traumas.
Moreover, when you have to exercise at home, you might find yourself tempted to skip a workout or to make it shorter because the home atmosphere is too relaxing. Of course, some people are able to fight this temptation successfully, but for many others it would simply be easier to start working out somewhere else.
3. Plan Your Meals Ahead
We know that eating healthy is important but still, we sometimes find it easier to eat something less healthy but quicker to cook. In order to avoid this poor habit and maintain a healthy diet, you should start planning your meals ahead. If you know what you are going to eat today, you’ll find it less tempting to grab the first snack you see.
Moreover, this will help you plan the whole cooking process better. Maybe it’ll be easier for you to cook some dishes the evening before or maybe you’ll be able to cook them right before you eat.
4. Create a Sleep Routine
It is important to get enough sleep every night. When you get enough sleep, you'll wake up energized, your brain will function better, and you’ll find it easier to focus and concentrate on your work.
There isn’t a fixed amount of sleep or nap time you should get—it depends on each person. But the recommended hours of shuteye is between 7 and 9 hours each night for adults. You probably know exactly how many hours you need to sleep to feel fresh and well rested. Stick to this number of hours every day.
It is also important to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. To ensure you sleep at the same time, create your own sleeping routine that will make you feel more relaxed and willing to fall asleep. For example, spend a few minutes before bed reading, listen to relaxing music, and so on.
5. Protect Your Eyes
Many freelancers spend a lot of time sited in-front of a computer working, which can affect your eyesight and physical wellbeing. While you cannot change the way you work, you at least can take better care of your eyes.
Wear protective eye glasses designed for people who work on computers as they can reduce the damage caused by light from the computer screen.
Eye gymnastics exercises help too. You can find different eye gymnastics exercises online, including a set of eye massage methods. Do them every day to maintain good eyesight and prevent visual problems.
All of these tips are simple and won’t take much of your time. They will, however, help you remain healthy, full of energy and able to complete your daily work and tasks successfully.
If you have more tips on how to stay healthy as a freelancer, please share them with us in the comments section below!
