Managing Your Online Lifestyle

When I started working online, I was very excited, especially when the dollars started flowing. Nothing else mattered that to have money in my wallet. I was able to foot my bills and have money to spare, not to mention income from my day job.

Several months down the dollar-covered path, I realized all was not well. I had gained extra pounds and it was noticeable. My body was not as flexible as before. My eyesight was weaker. My social life was suffering. What other outcome would I expect after spending long nights sitting before a laptop and rarely going out?

If you want to fare better than I did, here are some tips:

1. Rest: Schedule your working time so that you have time for rest. Rise from your seat and stretch out regularly. Also let your clients know the times you are unavailable.
2. Sleep: Because of differences in time zones between Kenya and the western nations that provide the largest chunk of online work, most Kenyan freelancers work at night. Because you need to sleep adequately, reserve the early morning for sleep.
3. Eat a balanced diet: Online workers often survive on fast food, leaving no time for preparing nutritious and delicious meals.
4. Maintain personal hygiene: Make sure you bath every day. Ensure your house or room is tidy and cleaned every day. Good ventilation is also essential for optimal performance.
5. Exercise: Studies have shown that sitting for long is more dangerous than smoking in terms of the harm it can cause to the body. If you cannot access a gym, go for morning and evening walks. Further, take regular breaks from your work to stretch your body. It is to your advantage that your remain physically active.
6. Protect your eyes: The blue light from your phone and computer will affect your sleep pattern and gradually damage your eyesight. Dim the light on your digital devices or put them on night mode. If possible, where special glasses to protect your eyes.
7. Socialize: If your schedule your working life, you can get adequate time for family and friends. Take weekends off to attend to social events. Join networks of online workers, former students, church members and so on.
8. Invest in personal development: Read widely, not only to be well-equipped as a writer, but also to grow as a personal. Have a library that includes motivational and religious books. Enroll in online course (there are paid and free versions). If time allows, enroll in academic courses. Your personal growth will reflect positively on your online working progress.
9. Save: Set aside 10-20% of your income for future use. You never know when you will lack work or when you will not be able to work. Don’t spend all the money you earn online.
10. Invest: Use your savings to invest in other income generating activities like an extra business, real estate or a farm. One day you will ‘retire’ from online writing and your investments will fill the income gap.
11. Stick to the legal and ethical: If you want to last longer and enjoy the online freelance industry more, avoid any activity that is not ethical or legal. Do not involve yourself in hacking people’s accounts and websites. Treat your clients with respect and honesty.