Not long ago I blogged about the occupational hazards of freelancers. Today I’d like to add one more to that list – lack of exercise and excessive (improper) sitting.
I know what you’re thinking… “Right, I am desperately trying to find clients and a way to get money to pay my rent, she’s nagging me about my sitting. As if I don’t have bigger problems?!”
I thought that, too!
Don’t underestimate the lack of exercise!
I have never been the one to go to the gym every other day taking good care of my physical shape. However, before I started my freelance career, I walked to the office and back every day. These were 5 to 7 km on a daily basis, Mon through Fri, no exception. (For my American readers, Google says it converts to 3-4 miles per day.) And if I went out with friends after work or went on a picnic over the weekend, the mileage was even higher.
Right before I started freelancing, I was a hostess/waitress in a hotel-restaurant for one summer in Greece. You can imagine how much exercise working was back then. 😉
In other words, I was in relatively good shape when I decided to work from home.
I started my freelance career in the autumn. Soon after, it started snowing, it was cold… I didn’t have anywhere to be, neither did I have much money, so I simply stayed mostly at home for a while.
I gained 5 kilograms for less than 2 months! (This is 11 pounds, if you’re wondering…)
Who would’ve thought I’d miss walking to the office and back so much, right? 😉
I didn’t think about this then. I had so many other and more important things to do – make money to pay my rent, pitch that new client, land that other gig, calculate my price for yet another project I am trying to get – you know, important stuff!
Today, 5 years later, I eat better and I move more, but I am still trying to shed that additional weight I gained in my first 2 months as a freelancer.
Bottom line – no matter how much work you have, what your problems are as a starting or experienced freelancer, get out and move at least once per day.
Walk your dog, run with your kids, ride your bike or just walk around the neighborhood. You’ll thank yourself later that you didn’t sit around at home all day every day.
(If you already regularly go to the gym or practice a sport, that’s cool – do that!)
And if you are still on the fence about the importance of moving and not sitting around all day every day, here’s an inforgaphic I found on Lifehack about the dangers of excessive (improper) sitting!
Find the original infographic and the post that goes with it here.
You’re definitely right! I’m lucky to live in a beautiful town in the mountains as I work via freelancing, but even with beautiful walks right at my door step, it’s all-too-tempting to sit behind my laptop all day. It’s all about balance, and it’s best to set good habits from the start… I’m definitely trying!
I am glad this post came as a reminder to you, Yolanda – I love walking outside, too and I know all too well how tempting it is to stay home when you have the opportunity to walk at your door step. I have found that just getting up and walking out of the door in whatever you are wearing at home is the best approach. I tend to postpone walking if I start planning it too much and getting dressed and all. Just get up and walk out. Still reading? Stop! Just get up and walk out right now, for only 5 minutes. You’ll thank me later 😉
This is soo true Diana! I’ve recently gained a few pounds and I know it’s from lack of exercise and what I’m eating (more carbs).
Having twins is difficult and with the snow on the ground, it’s hard to run around. I do shovel once or twice a week so that’s some form of exercise, right? 🙂
I do have to make effort, though, to actually move around during my work day! Thanks for the infographic!
You bring up a very important aspect, Elna – what we eat is as important as moving, maybe even more important. It’s good that working from home gives us the opportunity to plan our meals and develop healthy eating habits… right, it again boils down to habits, I guess 😀
Great things to keep in mind. I have never been one for exercise, but I know it’s something that I’m going to have to implement if I want to keep healthy! Thanks for the great article.
You’re welcome, Ben – and good luck developing those habits. Don’t postpone it, just do it 😉
I have good gym habits…I go! And I go regularly. I’ve had disk problems for years and learned early on how much damage sitting can do to the back. Although stand up desk are great, I don’t live in a space where I can accommodate one, so I do get up and move! So if the fear of gaining weight isn’t enough to get you moving, living with a bad back…painfully bad back…should!
I am sorry to hear about you bad back, Jacquie – that I didn’t know about you 😉 My boyfriend has a bad back sometimes… too bad he hasn’t learned his lesson yet and practices excessive sitting on a daily basis. It’s funny how we tend to postpone exercise because it’s “hard work” while in reality, the more we move, the better we feel, and the more we want to move…
I envy you (in a good way) for your good gym habits – keep it up and stay healthy!