While bloggers enjoy self-made schedules and creative freedom, they sometimes sacrifice personal health to maintain professional demands.
Sitting at home or at an office all day generates about as much motivation to hit the gym as a tipped-over Ben and Jerry’s truck.
Even though our blogging schedules are “flexible”, we still tend to be crunched for time and leave meals to fast-food restaurants and exercise to sitting and standing up.
Good news everyone! Motivational apps, virtual trainers, helpful and supportive online programs like Diet to go and BistroMD, and small changes to our daily lives can transform the old, sluggish blogger you into the new, energized blogger you.
1. Use Virtual Trainers
Computers and phones are coming to the weight-loss rescue. To receive motivational words and bits of healthy advice, you can subscribe to text messaging services from medical professionals.
Notes like “drink more water to shed weight” and “brush your teeth daily” will help remind you to take care of yourself throughout the day. iOS also offers some great training and diet apps to help you set goals, find exercises that work for you and track your progress.
2. Practice Mindful Eating
Popular diets promise fast weight loss, but once you reach your goal and bounce back to your old eating habits, the pounds will rush back on. Instead of stressing your body with weight fluctuation, make simple changes that will affect your physique over time.
Try to eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables and prepare as many of your meals as you can. Many healthy-looking meals from restaurants and take-out places have hidden calories in seasoning or sauces.
Eat often. Just because you only eat one or two meals a day doesn’t mean you’re eating well. Eating 3-5 small meals throughout the day will keep your body full and energized without binging.
3. Introduce Mini Exercises
Really, it doesn’t need to mean running. Or the gym. Or spandex. Exercise is just movement, and it’s up to you how to move. I think group fitness classes are really fun and motivational.
You might not. How about a peaceful walk through the park? Or riding a bike to pick up a few groceries? Exercise doesn’t need to feel like exercise. Pick something that you enjoy doing and do it as often as you can. Aim to do a movement activity at least 30 minutes a day for at least four days a week. You’ll end up feeling happier, sleeping better and writing with more enthusiasm.
4. Practice breathing and relaxation
Sounds silly, right? When we get stressed, we sometimes actually forget to breathe. Our breaths become short and shallow, just stressing out our bodies even more. Stress then contributes to weight gain or more of a struggle in weight loss.
When you feel yourself tense up at a project or client, just sit up straight in your chair, close your eyes, and breathe. Count to five on your inhale, then count to five on your exhale. Breathe like this for at least 10 breaths, or until you feel more calm.
There you have it. The healthier you are, the better you can conduct your daily blogging chores with confidence and less stress. How about you? Do you have any practical tips you can add to the list?
[note]Michael Chibuzor is a problogger and a creative freelance writer. He writes for a weight loss blog where he shares viable bistromd offer codes and diettogo vouchers to help you save on weight loss diet plans. These coupon and discount can be used at bistromd.com and diettogo.com to save.[/note]
Image Credit: sanders.senate.gov
Michael Chibuzor
Thank you DiTesco for this guest post. I appreciate your publishing it.
Zeeshan
Michael Chibuzor my friend nice to see that you are everywhere. I personally wash my face everytime i use computer for a long time. Its refreshes my mind and keep me healthy as well.
That’s a good suggestion Zeeshan. I’ll practice washing my face often. Thanks a bunch!
Aasma
Well, I wasn’t aware that breathing slowly can cause you to gain weight. I’ll keep it in my mind and try to breath normally. Though to stay fit I daily go for morning walk and sometimes at evening as well.
Sylvia @ Daily42
Hi Michael,
Although I do not consider myself as a professional blogger, I am very much a full-time blogger. You are right in what you said that despite having flexible schedules, we still find ourselves short of time.. Using virtual trainers may not be the one for me. However, the rest I can do.
Michael Chibuzor
Sure, these are guides and helpful suggestions. They’re rules set on stone. I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Thanks a bunch!
Chris @ NPI
Hi Michael,
I agree, that we must train to be healthy, especially when we sit a lot of hours in the front of monitor. BTW – I didn’t use virtual trainer till yet.
BR, Chris
Hey Chris, good to have you hear. I appreciate your comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
kevin redman
Hi I run a fitness site yet I am as guilty of not doing enough exercise. I am trying a new exercise program(training in the evening) which I hope will work
Sounds funny Kevin. You’ve to practice what you preach. Lol!
Sharyn Sheldon
Hi Michael.
Great tips. I’ve been working from home for years, mostly in front of the computer, so I can relate. I can also tell you from experience that you really have to combine both the exercise and the mindful eating to stay fit. I work out every day for almost an hour, but it’s not enough to counteract sitting (or sleeping) the other 23. And it’s definitely not enough to lose weight. Writing down everything I eat has always been the most helpful. I also now own a treadmill desk so I can walk a little while I work, just to keep moving. It’s an acquired taste, but keeps my back healthy.
Hmm, thank you very much for your honest suggestions. I appreciate your time. I also work from home, and proper exercise is vital.
reeha@inkjet
Rightly said health is wealth. without a healthy life we can’t get advantage of blogging because with ill mind we can’t write useful and are unable to took full advantage of blogging.
your tips are very vital and useful for bloggers. thanks for sharing it with me.
TechTips Guy
Thanks Mickie for sharing this article. Well according to me Practice breathing and relaxation are very important for bloggers specially. because when we continuously work in the same environment then the rate of blood purification/flowing in our body reduces which is not good for our health. So it is always better to TAKE BREATHING AND SOME 5 OR 10 MINUTES for relaxation after every 2 hours.
Thank you for reading my post. I truly appreciate your time.
Jane
Hey Mic – a very vital topic for bloggers! As much as we talk and think about marketing our blogs, we so much forget about ourselves! The latter is actually the most important thing – coz without a healthy blogger/online marketer there can be no successful online business!
Thanks Mic.
Ravi Singh
Hi,
You have shared very healthy topic for the bloggers. Professional man always busy and there is no time for spending himself. So It really beneficial for the blogger and everyone.
gerry
Loved this article as it is something that us bloggers don’t really take to seriously, however sat in front of a computer all day everyday does have a negative affect on our bodies and mind – great article and thanks for sharing
James Dreesen
Professional bloggers often take health advice for granted. The lack of exercise could lead to more serious health problems in the future. I do suggest to take some time off from work, get out on the field and do work outs. The last thing that a blogger don’t need is a heart attack. Thanks for sharing these help tips.