Last week Miranda Marquit featured a great post on her WorkShak blog, in which she explored the benefits of working out in our home office. I am a big fan of workouts. But, I’ve only gotten into a regular routine within the past year and a half. Now, workouts are second nature, and if I go longer than two days without doing something active, my body takes note.

We all know the health benefits of regular exercise. It can reduce obesity; and lower our risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. But the benefit’s don’t stop there. Of the five benefits offered my Miranda, two struck a chord with me, and I’ve learned firsthand that these benefits can work to a freelancer’s advantage.

Every morning I wake up at 6 a.m. Not because I have too, but because my body is trained that way. I don’t know why. But once I started exercising during the day, my body developed a routine of it’s own. Although it’s frustrating to lie in bed wide awake before dawn, I don’t complain too much. Instead, I welcome the alertness. I’ll start work early, enjoy a cup of coffee, or catch up on my favorite blogs. And the best part, I don’t usually need a nap around noon.

Thinking back to my pre-workout days….the situation was quite different. It didn’t matter if I went to bed at ten and slept for nine hours, I couldn’t get my butt out the bed in the mornings. I was sluggish throughout the day, which affected my productivity. Trying to be creative through a mental fog is no picnic, and relying on caffeine to get through the day doesn’t offer any long-term benefits.

I can see firsthand how exercise has impacted my health and my workdays. The mental alertness and energy helps me stay on task. I complete my assignments quicker, which leaves more time to care for personal matters.