In 2014, I left the corporate world and hung up my own shingle as a marketing consultant and writer. This meant that except for occasionally working from a client’s office or a coffee shop, I was spending most days working at home.
Throughout the year, I received many words of advice from those who work on their own: get partial payment upfront, keep all my receipts, put the expectations of the work in writing, bill regularly…you get the point.
What no one ever said was: beware the close proximity of the refrigerator.
Instead of walking to speak with a co-worker, it’s only a few feet to the kitchen. Instead of packing a portioned-out lunch, it’s all too easy to grab a second helping of whatever you just ate.
So, after several months of eating too much and too often throughout the day, I had to put the brakes on. My jeans were feeling snug and worse, I was feeling sluggish, because in addition to not eating as healthfully as I should, I was ignoring another great piece of advice I received: make time for exercise.
I’m happy to say that I’m back on track. I’m better managing my time and making time for exercise, getting in at least an hour of activity five or six days a week – more if my schedule allows. And I’m making better food choices.
Result: my energy level is extremely high and I actually look forward to exercising every morning.
By choice, I eat pretty much the same thing for lunch every day: a salad of vegetables, nuts, and seeds mixed with romaine lettuce and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. This not only tastes great, it’s a beautiful array of colorful vegetables that satisfies my craving for texture, crunch, and flavor.
And best of all, this rainbow in a bowl packs a nutritional wallop – just what I need to keep me focused on my work and out of the kitchen.