A lot of excitement comes with starting your own writing business. You're doing what you're most passionate about for a living, and you can't get enough of it. It doesn't matter if you're writing a blog, magazine article, novel, or website copy – all you need is something to write, a little direction, and off you go.
But the reality is that running a successful writing business is hard work, and it can lead to unhealthy habits and health risks if we aren't careful.
Does any of this sound familiar to my fellow freelance writers?
* Sleep deprivation
* Eyestrain
* Poor posture
* Weight gain
* Poor eating habits
* Inability to focus
* Headaches
* Stress
* Sick more than usual
4 Ways Freelance Writers Can Be Healthier
They say that too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Statistics show that the average American works more hours than ever – sometimes as many as 60 hours per week. That includes freelance writers who want to be healthier but work many late nights, early mornings, weekends, and whenever they can pump out quality content.
So if you're ready to make a change in 2023 so that you can still do your job and be healthier at the same time, here are 4 ways to manage your health as you grow your writing business.
1. Set your hours – If you find that you're working more hours as a freelance writer than what is healthy, decide how many hours you want to work and manage yourself to that. Anything you don't finish can wait until the next day. I use these time management strategies to make the most out of my work hours, and it has helped me create even more time to unplug.
2. Change how much you sit – Sitting too much leads to everything from lower back pain to bad posture, weight gain, and a variety of other chronic health problems. Freelance writers fall into this trap by writing for hours on end, but one thing I did was buy a Varidesk Laptop 30™ so that I can stand while typing. If I find that I am sitting for too long, I do several things. I focus on sitting up straight in my chair and taking breaks to stretch my legs, including a quick walk around the block.
3. Exercise – I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to break away from work as a freelance writer until I mentally feel like I've reached a stopping point that works for me. Not only could that take hours, but it almost always cuts into the time I purposely earmark for going to the gym. I must remember that exercise is great for clearing my head, relieving stress, and getting those creative juices flowing again. Plus, it's healthy. One thing that I've tried to do is schedule time to exercise with my wife. Having someone you are accountable to helps us freelance writers stay on task.
4. Get more sleep – One nasty habit I got into as I started my writing business was working until 2 or 3 a.m. almost every night. Why? That was when I felt the most engaged and could finish work without distractions. The problem with that was that I was getting less sleep, making me irritable, fat, lazy, and ... tired. I still work late at night, but I don't do it every day and am far more intentional when it comes to maintaining a proper sleep schedule. If I know I must work late, I pick a night when I don't have to get up early the following day. I also set a timer and cut myself off.
Being healthy is more important than work – even if you love what you do as a freelance writer. I hope you and other freelance writers will take some of the above suggestions to heart and start implementing them into your routine.
And who knows ... you'll probably become a better writer because of it.
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Edit This is a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. We specialize in producing written, error-free copy that explains your passion, promotes your products and services, and helps you stand out. Our list of services includes:
* Website copy
* Blogs
* Ghostwriting
* Press Releases
* Editing
* Newsletters
* Resumes
* And so much more
Whether you need us to write content from scratch or put a better spin on your writing, we are the local writing and editing partner every business owner needs. We also love working with authors and individuals.
Thanks for reading!
STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.