The Downside of Freelancing - Are you Guilty?

I love working at home. If you have been following my blog, you may have read my story on why we took the leap from the corporate world to freelancing. However, despite the good things and perks of working at home, one cannot deny that there is also a downside to our story. 

One of the common health problems of freelancers is brought about by our sedentary life. Without the need of a daily commute, one may just jump out of his/her bed and directly to his/her workstation. Exercise may easily be neglected where walking has been very minimal.

Aside from the lack of exercise, having a regular and healthy diet has been challenging. With no fixed schedule, skipping meals then binge on snacks after the shift has been a part of many freelancers' daily routine. 

And guess what? I am 100% guilty. 

After getting sick and realizing that health is indeed wealth. One must never too busy for a healthy lifestyle. We should never forget that our body needs regular exercise and a balanced diet. After all, it takes time and commitment to stay healthy. Here are some tips on how we can have a healthier life as freelancers. 

1. Exercise for at least 10 minutes a day - Ten minutes of push-ups, squats and lunges a day can help. Consistency is very important so do it on a daily basis. 

2. Eat small meals - Instead of skipping meals, try to eat five (5) small meals divided throughout the day. 

3. Have healthier food choices - Eat more fruits and vegetables. Replace processed white bread and pasta for whole wheat bread to increase fiber intake. 

4. Get more dietary fiber daily - As recommended by the Philippine Food and Nutrition Research Institute, adults need 20-25 grams of dietary fiber daily. Since I have very limited access to fiber-rich food, we can also take dietary fiber supplements. 

So, no matter how comfortable we are at home, don't forget to choose a healthier lifestyle. 

Reminders to all Online Workers and Freelancers

Some realizations about life, work, and sickness. :)

• Do not overwork yourself. Health is wealth. The money that you worked for will just go down the drain once you get hospitalized.

• Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep weakens your immune system. If you have a weak immune system, everything else follows.

• Have PHILHEALTH coverage, it helps with the hospital bills. If you can get an HMO, then it's much better.

• Inform your client, let them know your situation. They will understand. 

• Be prompt with your tasks, make sure you don't have backlogs. So that in cases that you have a bit of "downtime," it's still manageable.

• Lastly, build your passive income streams. Find a way to earn even if you're not really "working." There are a lot of options such as financial investments, affiliate marketing, blogging, etc.