8 healthy lifestyle habits for freelance writers

The writing life sounds easy. Flexible hours, working in your underwear, snacks within reach, and thousands of dollars to be made. Idyllic, right?

But it also involves sitting for hours, and forgetting what the outside world looks like. And if you're not careful, it can wreck your health in unimaginable ways.

In reality, writing should be fulfilling and also healthy. In this post, I will give you 10 tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle as a freelance writer.

Why freelance writers don't prioritise their health

Often, we focus so much on the writing part of the job that we forget that there's an option to rest. We move on autopilot and jump from bed to chair and back again. This gives little to no room for exercise and body movement, which is a core part of our health.

The freedom to work anywhere and anytime is amazing. But without a routine, your body can fall into chaos due to a lack of structure, rhythm, and lots of long-term health issues.

If you ask ten writers what their major issue is, they'll most likely say “long hours of screen time.”

Glancing at a bright screen for up to 8 hours a day isn't the dream we were sold, and trust me, the glasses don't do much.

Add the snack-based diets we easily munch on and the forgotten need to hydrate, you've got an imbalanced body system on your hands. So, what is the solution? How do we deal with this?

Daily habits to stay healthy

No matter how busy our lives as freelance writers get, here are five things we can do daily to make it better.

1. Start with intention:

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even when writing, is to have a routine.

Don't just decide to wing it as it goes. Start the day with clarity of how you want it to go. Practice a habit that puts you in the zone. 

This could be journaling, stretching, and planning your day ahead.

2. Plan your meals:

You are what you eat. As a freelancer, it's easy to munch on snacks throughout and forget about healthy meals. However, this can leave you feeling drained.

Let's not talk about the negative health effects of junk foods. To avoid this, make plans to eat healthy most time in a week.

An easy way out? Batch prepare your meals, since this won't take much time. Also, reduce the coffee and vibes diet, and start eating healthy.

3. Exercise:

It's easy to get lost in the writing world and actually forget to move. Believe me, I've been there. But this isn't the best.

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the worst things you can put your body through, so it's best to always try to move around. For me, I try to take five minute walks once I feel my butt mark a hole into the chair or bed.

This helps to get the blood flowing through my veins and stretch my body. To make this easier, take a stretch (like me) after every 30-45 minutes of writing.

It doesn't matter if you walk, dance, or shake your limbs. Just ditch the chair and move your body. The most important thing is that you don't lose your healthy lifestyle in a quest to be the wealthiest.

Besides, exercise has been proven to help with writer's block, so why not try it?

4. Drink water:

A healthy mind is a hydrated one, and this is a rule you should keep in mind at all times. The human body is equipped to carry about 3-4 litres of water every day, which is about eight 75cl bottles.

As a writer, you'll need around this amount due to the amount of brain work you need to do. However, it can get hard to maintain this amount because of the effort needed to do this.

Some tips I suggest:

• Use a water tracker app to know how much you've consumed and how much more you need.

• Keep a water bottle by your side, and set reminders so you always feel pushed to drink from it.

5. Sleep well:

Writing is important for every freelance writer, but so is resting and quality sleep. Shutting down for 6-8 hours daily will help to boost creativity, energy, and focus for the next writing period.

If you remain awake for more than 15 hours at a stretch, your body starts to shut down, and the best thing to do is take a nap.

As much as sleep is a necessity, don't use it to aid procrastination. Instead, go to bed with a calm mind.

Mental health habits to stay healthy

I'm sure you've heard the phrase, “Your mental health matters too.” Well, they are right.

Here are three tips that help me stay focused and sharp on most days.

6. Set actual work hours:

When you leave the 9-5 and opt for remote freelance writing, it's easy to get stuck and start working 24/7. No fixed work schedule means there is no work schedule, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Even remote and hybrid workers can set working hours too, a starting and closing time you don't go past - except it's urgent. 

Once it's closing time, plan your evening to include other activities like chores, hobbies, or even personal development. This also helps to prevent burnout and gives you the opportunity to actually enjoy your life as a remote worker.

7. Stop doom scrolling:

This is something I'm still guilty of, but that doesn't mean I can't talk about it. Online overstimulation is a disease that should be curbed in any freelance writer.

The urge to jump from one social media platform to the other, instead of doing actual work. The issue with this is that you end up over comparing, self-criticising, and wasting needed time.

Instead, install apps that help limit your time on certain apps, and use the rest of your day to actually do something productive, which brings me to my next point.

8. Get social:

Dear freelance writer, you need a friend. Preferably, an offline one.

One of the mistakes I made as a freelance writer was to fully immerse myself into the stay-at-home vibe. It's too easy to get lonely, and enjoy your own company but that's not the best.

Join writing communities if you can, meet new people, go out and see the world. You deserve to spend all the money you're making online, and what better way to do it than explore?

Check in with your friends too, and get accountability buddies. Basically, have someone you can always talk to, when you feel down or tired. I promise, it will help.

Quick tip: As you try to develop a healthy lifestyle habit for your freelance career, invest in your office setup and gadgets.

Get a functional desk, laptop stand, keyboards, and even posture pillows to keep your body in form. 

The whole goal of remote working is to continue staying good and living the dream, so don't forget to take care of your space too.

Health isn’t a luxury, but your secret weapon for better writing and a happier life.

Start small: set your work hours, batch cook your meals, and sleep like your career depends on it (because it does). Take intentional steps to improve your mental health daily. Trust me, your future self will thank you.

Which habit will you start today?

Comment below or share Feechi's article with your fellow freelancers! You can also find her on LinkedIn and

Medium.