As you already know, working as a translator involves spending many hours sitting, specially if you work from home. Doing exercise and staying active is an essential part of a balanced life ( mens sana in corpore sano ), and I have found that sometimes it's been difficult for me to maintain the lifestyle I used to have as a student (I would spend my free time doing lots of activities outdoors, jogging, cycling, hiking...). So, how do you stay healthy and active? I usually go swimming in the afternoon or to spinning class first thing in the morning.

How do you stay healthy?

eleonorang

This is so important and difficult at the same time! I have never been that active in my life (bad me!), but the more time passes, the more I acknowledge how much I need to do exercise to stay healthy on the long-term.
In the past year, I went to the public swimming pool and took hydrobike classes, which were so fun and energizing!

Then I had to quit when I moved to a different city. Currently, my biggest goal is to sign up at the nearest gym and attend courses 2-3 times a week. Ah, September is as much a time for new propositions as New Year's Day, isn't it? ?

March_ts

eleonorang Ah, September is as much a time for new propositions as New Year's Day, isn't it?

I totally agree! I have lots of projects in mind and I always put them off thinking "oh well, I'll begin in September" ?

eleonorang

March_ts We could start an accountability group ?

alyonaxl8

I smoke and don't exercise. Maybe I'll quit the former and start doing the latter in September. Though I don't know which year yet.

tralangia

i dont smoke nor drink, though like beer with fruity notes. trying to get into running, but dont have discpline to run every morning or evening.

ninagruenewald

March_ts So, how do you stay healthy and active? I usually go swimming in the afternoon or to spinning class first thing in the morning.

First thing in the morning is my keyword! I try to get up early and I cherish my daily morning routine. Everybody seems to talk about it on instagram and pinterest and whatnot, but it really is great to have! I try to exercise a little every day. I call it "move my body" rather than "do sports every day" which sounds super scary ? I try to go running at 7am for about half an hour, then I drink a lot of water, do about 5 sun salutations and 5-10 mins of meditation, and shower with fun music. Then I am ready to start working around 08.30. I really like this and I think it is so important to have something like that. Now, at 12 noon, I know I already did something for myself, my physical and mental health.

And besides exercise, I believe, a healthy diet is extremely important. Especially when you sit at home all day, by yourself, and nobody can see what you might be stuffing your face with all day!! hahaha. Atm I try to prepare a big batch of steamed veggies for a few days, and some rice and chia pudding for 3 days breakky. ?

Uh, and at night I try to go to bed at 9ish, read A PHYSICAL BOOK, haha, until 10 and then sleepy time. My partner thinks I am a freak ?

So much detail, but you asked ? I am curious if you have any more tips!

eleonorang

ninagruenewald I try to go running at 7am for about half an hour, then I drink a lot of water, do about 5 sun salutations and 5-10 mins of meditation, and shower with fun music. Then I am ready to start working around 08.30.

This (and you) sound awesome and super-productive! I'm not sure I could do this, I find it so hard to get up early in the morning, especially because I find it so important for my sanity to go out with friends at night on a regular basis. Well, I guess I'll have to learn a way to do it since I'm about to start a course on Mindfulness and I'll have 'homework' such as meditating every morning ?

You're totally right about healthy dieting and heavy (water) drinking ? If you're this well-organized and thoughtful in your daily activities, it should not be a problem for you to organize your work routine ?

ninagruenewald

eleonorang Oh wow, thank you ? What a compliment! Yes, going out with friends is, of course, so super important. I used to do things in the evening, too. But since I moved here, I am more a morning person. People here socialise over breakfast and lunch break and I am friends with some other running enthusiasts and we go together in the morning. That is actually quite energizing!

A course on mindfulness sounds so nice!! Good luck with the meditation!!

eleonorang If you're this well-organized and thoughtful in your daily activities, it should not be a problem for you to organize your work routine

Oh, thanks. That is a lovely motivation! I really hope so, too! It is all very overwhelming and interesting... ?

ninadepalma

I keep trying to become a morning person, but it's so difficult! I used to wake up at 8 and start work around 8:45, but now I've been trying to wake up at 7:30, eat breakfast, relax, and then work. But it's hard for me to deal with getting tired around 10:30. That's not what I'm used to, haha.

As for staying healthy, I do lots of yoga and take lots of walks! I like to do those things around noon, before eating lunch.

ninagruenewald

ninadepalma I keep trying to become a morning person, but it's so difficult!

Agreed! I feel like it all goes together! I have to feel and eat healthy to get up early and get up early to be tired at night so I get up early... where to start?!?!?! Haha. But I think, once you get there it is really a nice feeling ?

ninadepalma But it's hard for me to deal with getting tired around 10:30.

I had that as well! It somehow just happened after I forced myself for a while to get up early. Plus, I started going to bed pretty early and then read a hardcover fiction book for one hour. That really seems to calm down my mind and then I get tired much better. And I also sleep better since I started with that. Maybe it can help you, too ?

And oh I love yoga! Do you go to a studio or do you to it at home?

ninadepalma

ninagruenewald Plus, I started going to bed pretty early and then read a hardcover fiction book for one hour.

I typically read for anywhere from ten minutes to an hour before bed, depending on how long I can keep my eyes open ? That definitely helps me relax before sleeping.

ninagruenewald Do you go to a studio or do you to it at home?

I have gone to yoga studios before, and I had good experiences there, but I do just prefer doing it at home, honestly. Also, I'm in serious penny-pinching mode right now, haha. How about you, do you do yoga at home or out?

ninagruenewald

ninadepalma I have gone to yoga studios before, and I had good experiences there, but I do just prefer doing it at home, honestly. Also, I'm in serious penny-pinching mode right now, haha. How about you, do you do yoga at home or out?

Haha! I am with you! penny-pinching a little. I do a few minutes of yoga every morning and on Sundays, there is free yoga in a fairly central park here in CBR which is great. I love walking there in the morning, the city is very calm on Sunday mornings and it is such a great start! Maybe there is some free yoga around you as well? It is a yoga shop that organises it here, called lululemon, I think that also exists in the states?

ninadepalma

Also, it's weird, but I find myself far less hungry and less inclined to eat food when I'm working at home when compared to when I worked in office environments. Usually I hear that it's the other way around and people who work from home find themselves overeating. But sometimes if I'm not around other people who are eating (like I am in an office) or if my work is engaging enough (which it seldom was at my office jobs) I don't get the sharp hunger pains I used to get as early as 10:30 am (even after having eaten breakfast!!!).

ninagruenewald

ninadepalma Also, it's weird, but I find myself far less hungry and less inclined to eat food when I'm working at home when compared to when I worked in office environments.

I have the same!! Maybe it is because you are busy in a way that you like! You do things that you enjoy and where you can challenge your curiosity! Eating can sometimes be a way of bridging boredom which, I suppose, just does not happen to us at the moment ?