Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what everyone does to help maintain their health as a self-employed person? I want to develop a plan to keep myself as healthy as possible so that I don't have a period of being unable to work again.

I was unwell for a lot of last year, mental health-wise, and was unable to even escort for 6 months. I don't want to go through that again... and now I have a cold sore outbreak and can't work at all because of it, though otherwise I feel fine - very frustrating! (NB, I've looked up the thread on cold sores here and have all the recommended treatments, by the way.)  I'm now on psych medication that seems to be sorta-working, so that's good, but I'm sure there are plenty of things other people are doing to maintain their health that I haven't thought of.

I'm thinking regular exercise, vitamins, therapy and reliable psychiatric care, eating as well as I can... hard to engage in all of that when your mental health isn't in top shape, though.

Anyway, is there anything else you've found that helps maintain your health? Would love to hear what others do to keep themselves healthy.

Obviously having some money socked away to get you through periods of being unwell is ideal, but I'm not in a position where I can do that at the moment.

Don't become obsessed with work. Turn your phone off before bed. Have other things to do, and make sure you have at least one full day off a week.
Don't eat too much junk food or drink loads of caffeine or alcohol
Get out in the fresh air at least once per day, preferably 10-2 in the autumn/winter, even if it's just a quick walk
Have someone you can talk to, virtually or face-to-face, about work and other stuff
Treat yourself every now and again, even if it's just something small
Try and get 7-8 hours sleep per night.

I don't sleep for that long but apart from that I'd agree with all these - my main one is eating proper fresh food and avoiding lots of processed stuff - I'm not a saint, but after years of near-constant touring I realised how much the crappy diet affected me and I try to cook a proper meal from scratch every day. The getting outside in the fresh air is massively important to me too even when it's just the walk to my work flat and back - if I worked from home I know I'd just be sitting around in my dressing gown all day.

My suggestion that isn't above is have other interests that are nothing to do with work, and if possible build up some friends (IRL or online) from them just so you're not constantly thinking and talking about work when you're not doing it. Even little things like cooking, reading, knitting or going swimming - it doesn't have to be expensive .

Quote from: KayHerts on 18 September 2015, 12:37:00 pm

Don't eat too much junk food or drink loads of caffeine or alcohol
Get out in the fresh air at least once per day, preferably 10-2 in the autumn/winter, even if it's just a quick walk
Have someone you can talk to, virtually or face-to-face, about work and other stuff
Treat yourself every now and again, even if it's just something small
Try and get 7-8 hours sleep per night.

My suggestion that isn't above is have other interests that are nothing to do with work, and if possible build up some friends (IRL or online) from them just so you're not constantly thinking and talking about work when you're not doing it. Even little things like cooking, reading, knitting or going swimming - it doesn't have to be expensive .

Big cup of lemon tea or water when I wake up. Cleans out some built up toxins
Deep breathing
Write to do list of little things to do each day -cleaning dishes, take out the rubbish, 5 minutes of exercise, paint your nails, once accomplished makes you feel like you've done something
Put colourful flowers in my room
Happy music
Inspirational podcast
Vitamin supplements-Vitamin D, C, B12, omega, iron, 5-HTP
Post photos on my Flickr
Pen pals
Exercise machine, I got a cheap one in my room for 5 to 10 minutes cycling each day

meditation is amazing you tube guids on meditation

I'm a fitness junkie, maybe because i'm just 23

Nothing to do with age I'd say, most of the weightlifting women in my gym are in their 40s.

With that said, I'd sign under homecooked meals, getting plenty of fresh air and hobbies. Hobbies are kinda important. Any work will wreck you if you only work, sleep and do chores.

Quote from: KayHerts on 18 September 2015, 12:37:00 pm

Don't become obsessed with work. Turn your phone off before bed. Have other things to do, and make sure you have at least one full day off a week.
Don't eat too much junk food or drink loads of caffeine or alcohol
Get out in the fresh air at least once per day, preferably 10-2 in the autumn/winter, even if it's just a quick walk
Have someone you can talk to, virtually or face-to-face, about work and other stuff
Treat yourself every now and again, even if it's just something small
Try and get 7-8 hours sleep per night.

I don't sleep for that long but apart from that I'd agree with all these - my main one is eating proper fresh food and avoiding lots of processed stuff - I'm not a saint, but after years of near-constant touring I realised how much the crappy diet affected me and I try to cook a proper meal from scratch every day. The getting outside in the fresh air is massively important to me too even when it's just the walk to my work flat and back - if I worked from home I know I'd just be sitting around in my dressing gown all day.

My suggestion that isn't above is have other interests that are nothing to do with work, and if possible build up some friends (IRL or online) from them just so you're not constantly thinking and talking about work when you're not doing it. Even little things like cooking, reading, knitting or going swimming - it doesn't have to be expensive .

Like Amy I don't sleep that much either, but it doesn't matter - you make sure you sleep however long is right for you.  The junk food thing is important, when you're working funny hours and spending half your life in hotels, it can be hard to eat properly, but you need to make the effort to do so.  Also, get some exercise.  I'm a gym junkie and I go there every day, but even just walking is exercise, and it gets you out and puts you in a different frame of mind.

Not becoming obsessed with work and having outside friends and interests is massive.  Having outside friends can be hard because if you're leading the double life that a lot of us are, but it will keep you yourself and sane.

Above all, remember that underneath all the hair and make up, and beyond blow jobs, fetishes, GFEs and watersports, updating profiles and taking photos, you're still _________(insert real name here!)

I'm a fitness junkie, maybe because i'm just 23

I did 3 intensive residential British Army Style Training Bootcamps last year
with serving Physical Education Trainers from the Army and Navy.
I flew past the 20 year olds in the pre-breakfast marathon run
at 6.00 each morning.

That was before 7 hours of twisted physical and mental challenges.
Crawled eye-deep in flooded, freezing, cow shit soaked fields.
Had mud kicked in my face by trainers till I didn't mind it.
Then jumped into a barrel of ice water before going to bed.

Several of the youngies had to leave each camp due to injuries.
...and I'm nowhere near 23.

Sort of random but it's not the xtreme bootcamp one in November is it?

Quote from: cheesypeas on 19 September 2015, 12:52:59 pm

Quote from: Helgaxxx on 18 September 2015, 06:37:35 pm

I'm a fitness junkie, maybe because i'm just 23

I did 3 intensive residential British Army Style Training Bootcamps last year
with serving Physical Education Trainers from the Army and Navy.
I flew past the 20 year olds in the pre-breakfast marathon run
at 6.00 each morning.

That was before 7 hours of twisted physical and mental challenges.
Crawled eye-deep in flooded, freezing, cow shit soaked fields.
Had mud kicked in my face by trainers till I didn't mind it.
Then jumped into a barrel of ice water before going to bed.

Several of the youngies had to leave each camp due to injuries.
...and I'm nowhere near 23.

I've done similar residential bootcamps I try to do 3/4 a year I have one booked in November for a week & a two week one in march
I love doing them even though I die a little bit each time