I’ve worked at home full time since February 2002.
So…just about 8 years.
In those 8 years….I’m going to say honestly….my health has declined. Can I pinpoint why?? Ummm….frankly yes. I feel that it’s because I started working at home. How could working at home cause my health to decline?
Let me break it down – because I do truly feel this is the root of most of my health issues….and let me say before we get started – I am not dying. I don’t have a terminal disease, or heart issues (that I know of at this time).

I have always been a fairly active and social person. Always. In February 2002, I did not leave my radio job by choice. The station went out of business. I would still be there if they were still open for business and felt so obliged to still have me working there. I loved that job and that station (WZLS 96.5 in Asheville, NC). Could I have gone with the new owners (who totally changed the station from classic rock….to crusty, old music)…yes, I could have….but I felt a loyalty to the previous owners, hated the crappy music the new owners played, and had a one year old that I thought I’d get to know better. (Unlike my first child that spent years in daycare.)

So..I started working at home….I spent more time and energy on my site MoneyMakingMommy.com. A LOT of time. A whole HELL of A LOT of time. It was ridiculous. I had to learn HTML, SEO, write content, research, learn about affiliate programs….my head would spin each day and night while I worked tirelessly. In between I cooked, cleaned, did laundry and took care of a 1 year old and 6 year old.

So….here I am today….with a 9 year old and 15 year old — still putting in long hours. I have a few more sites now that I maintain, I do Avon and StampinUp too. It’s time consuming.

Over the years….my health has taken a backseat. I exercised less. I ate crap food for energy (M&Ms and Pringles). I was isolated…and even more so after we moved to the country for 4 years. So I was no longer around other people…especially other music freaks like me. Working outside the home does put you with other people that typically have the same interests…or at least have to come to the same place each day….that’s something in common right there!

It’s not that I don’t love what I do now….I do. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss radio…the station I worked for and all the people that worked there. It’s very lonely working at home. (Don’t kid yourself on this one!) OH yes..I have tons of ONLINE friends. A few very close online friends that are like sisters to me now. But there is something about face to face interaction, co-worker camaraderie, being OUT of the house….and meeting new people that feed the soul. I honestly believe that. Not to mention that working outside the home makes you at least get up, get dressed, walk around….

Working at home eating crap food, sitting in a computer chair for hours….working LONG hours….working weird hours….being isolated….

Yep….I think it’s a recipe for health issues. I gained weight. Went from 135 to 153! I didn’t exercise…at all…maybe working in my yard counts, and few monthly spurts of heavy treadmill time….but nothing continuous. Whose fault is this….it’s mine. I take full credit – I’m not blaming anyone. As my business grew, my stress grew as well. The weight, bad eating habits and stress….created this lovely GERD issue that I still deal with today….even after losing 10 pounds – and I plan to lose 5 more to get me to 138 (which is a good weight for me), the GERD continues. Stupid GERD.

Many times I went into the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. Crushing chest pain, choking at night, anxiety….

Lack of sleep, eating junk, no social circle to speak of, no exercise….constant work, even on the few vacations we took…
It just took it’s toll. I thought for sure….”my heart is going”. I thought I could actually FEEL plaque forming and plugging up my arteries!

So today….a new year ahead of me. I make the choice…..and really already had back in October to be more healthy. But I’m taking things a bit further. I’ve lost 10 pounds, and like a said, will whittle that last 5 pounds off too. I’m pretty much going back to being a vegetarian like I was for 15 years. Added meat back in about 7 years ago – and I just think, for me….meat is not a super healthy food. Will I eat some fish, turkey every now and then….probably. Will I count M&Ms and Pringles as a vegetarian meal anymore? No – I won’t. I did for years though! LOL

I’ve started yoga classes. I suck….I suck really bad – but I don’t care. I am learning. I am OUT of the house.
We’ve moved back into town….which is wonderful. I am back around friends which has been so wonderful. A truly huge, fabulous wonderful! (Thank you friends!!!)

I am creating “work hours” like I have preached to others for years…but never really followed. At 4PM….I’m done unless there is a crisis at work, or I’m just bored and alone….and have nothing to do with myself. NO more weekends either. The internet creates this 24/7 “gotta have it now” mentality….don’t buy into it. Tell people to frickin’ WAIT!! Keep their dang pants on….you have a life – and you want to live it. There is NOTHING that needs your absolutely FULL attention 24/7 at any job unless you’re some kind of heart surgeon running a 24 hour open clinic or something. Are you? And are you practicing heart surgery in your home?? I don’t think so. The world will NOT end, you are not mean, you ARE professional – you just CHOOSE to have a damn life.  I miss my family that lives right in this house with me!! Honestly….I’ve hardly spent time with them for 8 years because I am sitting here….typing, typing…working and working. I answer about 115 emails a day! I kid you not!! It’s exhausting….and that’s tip of the iceberg of what I do “working at home” with my cush little job….cush…..NOT.

So listen….I don’t want to turn you off from working at home. It is wonderful. BUT….you need to go into it with sense. And not like I did….just being a crazy woman for years. Oh sure…the first year or two of a business…..you should be ramped up, investing time…..all that good stuff….but GOOD LORD don’t forget “yourself”. Take the time for a 30 minute walk, lunch with friends…..stretching….an apple instead of a Twinkie, some green tea instead of crap tons of caffeine filled coffee. I promise….you will feel MORE fulfilled working at home if you take care of yourself.

So with 8 years full time experience in this “work at home” foxhole – I can tell you — it’s a battle. But it’s one that you want to win. Without your health….you have nothing. Sure…money is great. Being successful is great. But simplicity is beautiful…and magical. I promise. Down time, healthy food, conversation with people you love, moving your body….so very simple….but HUGE components to the human spirits happiness. OH sure….that 55 inch TV at Best Buy, and that brand new Acura MDX….and all these “things” we think will make us happy…..nope. They don’t. Commercials, celebrities, movies, magazines…..other people with the “Keep Up with the Joneses” disease….they’ll make you doubt simplicity….or they can make you feel you’re less because you don’t have “this” or “that”. Paaahleeeeze. Pretty pathetic.
Who are they to tell me…or you? Don’t give them the power.

The days I have a good book, a fire going…..some tea in an old “NON-Crate and Barrel Gotta Have IT” mug, my daughter next to me…a simple, healthy meal in the crockpot, dog at my feet….cat curled up with us – life is BIGGER, life is MORE beautiful. Look at this little girl next to me! Look at the curve of her nose, and that sunshine colored hair with curls down her back….her pretty, sparkling blue eyes….this is a baby that came from me!! A miracle.
And she’s reading! And she is loving reading….and she is loving being next to her momma….and the cat and dog have full tummies, and fresh water to drink….and the fire keeps us warm….there is a roof over our heads….food cooking for dinner….
It sounds very stupid….to many I am sure. Even to me at one time….this would have sounded like some ‘Little House on the Prairie’, granola…..dumb, loser talk. “Get a Life”, I would have said to these “simple” dumb butts.

Now….
I HAVE a life. And it’s wonderful. I am not buried under car payments and house payments because I HAD to have a big house because Mary has one…..and I didn’t HAVE to have a brand new car because my neighbor does….
I don’t have a mountain of credit card bills anymore. None. Why?? I stopped buying crap to just be buying crap. When we moved this last time….I purged. It was horrific how much “stuff” we had. Stuff we don’t use or need….all taking up space. Silly. Side Note: I hope there is a hell for “gadgets”. Gadgets are evil.

So my goal this year? You guessed it….simple.
Health and Happiness.

And though some of you might roll your eyes….I am wishing health and happiness for YOU too – I can’t think of a greater gift to wish anyone and it doesn’t cost me a thing.