Creating a work life balance

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A lof of Freelances are guilty of focusing way to much on the work, and not so well on the balance part of the equation.

I know, I’ve been guilty of it myself in the past. It got to the point where I would:

• Forget to eat
• Sleep whenever it fitted into my timetable
• Feel guilty when ever I was not working
• feel that any setback was due to me handling things badly.

Like anything in life, we can often handle it for a short time, but working at such high intensity only leads to burnout, and then the only waz is down.

So when I started this challenge last week I looked at myself and thought thougherly about what is important to me in life, when I work well and how I would work hard, but still create a balance which was sustainable. This is what I figured:

• When I focus, I could do more work in one hour then my colleagues seem to do in a day
• If above is true, then working intensely for 2 hour intervals, 3 hours a day would bring great benefits
• I work well early in the morning, midday and evening (I am ultra unproductive in the afternoons)
• So I will work 2 hours in the morning when I wake up, have a break do something else, work another 2 hours,  take the whole afternoon off (or very light work which is non brain taxing) and wrap up with a good 2 hours in the evening.

So what will I do with the rest of my time? Well there are three areas that I think Freelancers neglect a lot:

1. Their health/fitness
2. Their eating habits
3. and… sleep !

As mentioned earlier I have been guilty of this in the past, so I must get it right this time. So here is what I declare

• I will work out at least 1 hour every day (that could be an actual workout or playing sport for 1 hour)   – This can be slotted in between my second 2 hour work session (mid morning) or anytime during the afternoon/early evening.
• I will plan and cook at least 3 meals daily and my snacks between meals will be healthy too. (Since I am on a budget, cooking is also a great way to save money)

A HEALTHY BODY GIVES A HEALTHY MIND - and the healthier my mind, the faster I will reach my goal…

Fitness has always been a keen interest of mine (I am a qualified Personal Trainer wth over two years practical experience), and thus it vital that I keep with a fitness routine or I will start to notice myself feeling strange and unusual. If you stop doing the things that are core to being you, then you become a nobody… and at this time, I need to be myself, only better!

I have managed to borrow 90 day fitness program from my flatmate called P90x. WOW, this thing is extremem! I’ve on day 5 now, and even though Im not getting through each of the days routines (due to it being so tough) it is giving my mind a rest from work, thus allowing me to think much clearer when I get back to it. It does not matter that I am not fit enough to complete the workouts yet, the good part is that I started and I am trying. I know in my mind that in 90 days I will be in the greatest shape of my life. (Success in Business is an extention of your attitude everywhere else in life… I will succeed with this workout series just as I will succeed with this challenge)

And the additional benefit of a good daily work out is …. I’m sleeping like a baby!

Tomorrow I’m going to talk about pricing a product. It’s one of the articles that I will continue to build on each week, in order to have a mini series, which will hopefully attract many more people to this blog, and in turn have them support my ventures throughout the year.

So, remember to bookmark me and return to the site tomorrow !