It’s a common misconception that freelancers stay in their pyjamas and lounge around rather than doing any work. The newer the freelancer, the more they have to do, such as build a client base, complete a portfolio and remember to feed the cat.  Amongst the madness, there’s hardly time to have a lie down and relax in pyjamas – which also means there isn’t time for much else.

Freelancers spending all their time on work rarely have time to think about how healthy their lifestyle is. Without time to head to the gym or spend eons cooking a beautiful meal some freelancers can see their health take a turn for the worse. To avoid eating biscuits and frozen food when you’re working, use these tips to stay healthy and productive.

Exercise While You Work

This might sound like an odd one, but hear us out first. If you don’t think you have time to exercise around working, why not do it at the same time? We’re not suggesting that you take your laptop to the gym or conduct conference calls while you’re doing jumping jacks, but there might be a way to keep working and get all the exercise you need.

Chair yoga is now a thing, and for you lucky freelancers, it means you can look completely stupid during your five minute break in the comfort of your own home – unfortunately for us office workers it may get some funny looks. Check out this guide if you’re interested in how chair yoga can change the way you work.

Buy Fresh Food

Frozen food might be the easiest way to grab a meal when you have a million emails to reply to. You can stick it in the oven, and come back 20 minutes later when it’s done. It definitely is not the healthiest option. Instead of having to choose time over quality, why not pick both?

People don’t realise how easy it is to whip up a quick meal out of some healthy veg. It doesn’t take a Michelin star quality chef to make a butternut squash taste good! All it takes is a simple cookbook and easy access to a grocery shop – don’t head straight for the freezer aisle.

Stretch Often

If you’re not up for chair yoga, or you don’t have the time to head to the gym, sit at your workspace and give your muscles a good shake out! It doesn’t take an hour to have a good stretch, so freelancers you have no excuses!

Even office workers can be found having a stretch and a short break from work, so why would you not do it in your own home? We’d recommend having a break at least every ten minutes to help you work more efficiently. You might think you’re just giving your muscles a bit of attention, but you’ll end up being more productive by increasing the blood flow.
 
 

Go For Walks

Feeling the wind in your hair and the grass on the ground isn’t just a luxury reserved for countryside getaways. If you live in the city you might find it more difficult to enjoy a summers day outside, but taking the time to travel to a nearby park for some thought and relaxation will improve your mood greatly.

If you start feeling guilty for the time you spend away from your desk now, you’ll never be away from work! Set a daily time that you have to leave the house by for a walk or the catch up with friends. Keeping yourself healthy doesn’t just mean eating right and exercising well – it also means paying attention to your work and home life balance.

Have a Cooking Sunday

If you haven’t got time to cook a lovely nutritious meal morning, noon and night, then reserve a time for doing it all at once. Buy your fresh food on one day and instead of worrying about its use by date, cook all your meals at once. Working this way means you have a set time to cook which gives you a substantial break at the end of the week.

Not only will cooking and freezing your week’s food on a Sunday make you feel better about your meals, it will also save you money. No longer will you have to buy sandwiches every day of the week because it’s easier than making your own! Make a big pot of soup and enjoy it while you’re busying yourself away during the working week.

Hydrate

If you’ve got lots of work to catch up on, you’re not going to be able to get much done without staying hydrated. After four to eight hours of dehydration, we begin to get headaches and have difficulty concentrating. This is because the brain is extremely sensitive, and will react to even small changes in the amount of ions like sodium and potassium which are in our body’s fluids.

So when you aren’t putting enough water in your body, you won’t be getting the right amount of nutrition in order to perform your tasks to the best of your ability – meaning your freelance work will suffer. Get some extra water by having hot cups of water with lemon rather than tea, and keeping a fresh bottle of water in your workspace.

Are you a freelancer trying to stay healthy at home? Share your tips and tricks in the comment section below!

Image credits to Total Shape Fitness.