Freelancers are great at pushing through. We hit deadlines, juggle clients, and squeeze productivity out of thin air. But here’s the truth many of us avoid:
Our physical health often pays the price.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the side of freelancing that rarely gets airtime — the slow erosion of our health when the business becomes the only priority. And we’re doing it with someone who brings deep experience, grounded wisdom, and a refreshingly simple approach: my friend Lucie Robazza, a certified health coach, personal trainer, kinesiologist, and founder of Strenxia.
This conversation started because this past summer I made a real commitment to improving my own health. No crisis. No big scare. Just a decision that the way I’d been operating wasn’t sustainable.
I shifted to a concierge-style medical practice, partnered closely with my doctor, and began tracking meaningful health metrics — the biomarkers that tell the real story of how your body is functioning. With his guidance, I’m working one day at a time to make real improvements through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
As I dug in further, it became impossible to ignore how many freelancers are quietly struggling with the same thing.
So I asked Lucie to help us understand what’s actually going on, especially for the women in this audience who face unique challenges in midlife that mainstream advice often misses.
This episode is practical, simple, and surprisingly encouraging.
What You’ll Learn
- How long hours, stress, and irregular routines affect your key health markers
- Why midlife health — especially for women — doesn’t follow the “standard” playbook
- Why fatigue, brain fog, and stubborn weight changes often aren’t moral failings but physiological signals
- How to work with your doctor more effectively and ask smarter questions
- Simple, sustainable steps to start rebuilding your health without blowing up your life
Key Ideas & Takeaways
Most freelancers operate in a chronic low-grade stress state:
This affects everything from thyroid function to inflammation to metabolic health
You can’t improve what you don’t measure:
Baseline labs — cholesterol, triglycerides, thyroid panels, fasting insulin, A1C, and more — are biomarkers, not judgments
Midlife changes are real, especially for women:
What worked at 25 doesn’t work at 45, and that’s not a discipline issue
Small, consistent improvements beat dramatic overhauls:
The “1% better” approach is not only sustainable but often more effective
Your doctor is a partner, not a vendor:
Preparing questions, bringing context, and understanding your metrics changes the entire experience
Download Lucie’s 5-Day Writer’s Reset Challenge
If you’re ready to reclaim your energy, improve your daily habits, and build a healthier foundation for your business, download Lucie’s 5-Day Writer’s Reset Challenge. It’s FREE, and it’s built for writers who want meaningful change without a complicated program.
Disclaimer: Before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health routines, always consult with a qualified medical professional. The information in this episode is for informational purposes only and not to be treated as medical advice. Neither Lucie nor I are doctors.
If this episode resonates, share it with another freelancer who’s been pushing too hard for too long. This might be the nudge they need.
Timestamp Overview
Introduction & Guest Welcome (00:00:00-00:00:04)
Ed welcomes Lucie and sets the stage for the focus on health and wellness for desk-bound professionals.
Lucie’s Background & Journey (00:01:04-00:02:20)
Lucie describes her transition from corporate life to becoming a nutrition coach, personal trainer, and kinesiologist, and the motivation behind her work with women.
The “New Year, New Me” Mistake (00:03:16-00:04:19)
Lucie highlights the unrealistic expectations set by New Year’s resolutions and why drastic, all-or-nothing health goals inevitably fail.
Impact of Health on Work Performance (00:05:54-00:07:51)
Poor sleep, blood sugar crashes, and sedentary habits can directly undermine creativity, productivity, and work quality, especially for freelancers.
Sleep and Insulin Resistance (00:08:37-00:09:53)
A single night of poor sleep can cause insulin resistance and increase cravings, illustrating the critical connection between sleep and metabolic health.
Challenges for Women Over 40: Perimenopause (00:10:44-00:13:51)
Lucie explains how perimenopause radically changes women’s hormonal biology, impacting stress tolerance, sleep quality, weight, and cognition.
Raising Awareness of Perimenopause (00:14:10-00:15:51)
Despite its prevalence, many women are unaware of perimenopause and its varied symptoms; Lucie stresses the importance of increasing education.
Incremental Change vs. Big Resolutions (00:16:30-00:17:25)
Both speakers advocate for microhabits and small, repeatable changes as a sustainable alternative to failed resolutions.
The Power of Microhabits (00:17:26-00:19:19)
Microhabits are easier to maintain even on tough days, fostering identity shifts and long-term confidence through small daily wins.
Microhabit 1: Sunlight Before Screens (00:21:14-00:22:46)
Getting natural sunlight early in the day helps regulate hormones for energy and sleep, and can be supplemented in winter with light therapy lamps.
Microhabit 2: Water Before WiFi (00:24:41-00:26:06)
Starting the day with water (and ideally electrolytes) helps reduce dehydration-related fatigue, cravings, and supports cognitive focus.
Microhabit 3: Protein First Mindset (00:29:09-00:34:03)
Prioritizing protein intake, especially at breakfast, supports muscle health, satiety, and prevents energy crashes—critical for women, but beneficial for all.
Microhabit 4: Exercise Snacks (00:34:29-00:37:52)
Short movement bursts (“exercise snacks”) throughout the day break sedentary patterns, boost energy, and improve metabolic health.
Microhabit 5: Nervous System Resets (00:38:46-00:41:28)
Integrating deep breathing throughout the day helps manage stress proactively, supporting resilience and mental clarity.
Strategies for Making Habits Stick (00:42:23-00:46:12)Practical approaches such as environment modification, habit stacking, and setting “worst day standards” make microhabits more sustainable long-term.
By the way… whenever you’re ready, here are 4 ways I can help you grow your freelance business:
1. Claim your free book:
Discover the secrets to a thriving writing career in Earn More in Less Time: The Proven Mindset, Strategies and Actions to Prosper as a Freelance Writer. — Download your FREE copy
2. Stop losing projects to better-equipped writers
My AI Advantage Hub gives you new and proven capabilities every month that make you more confident and competitive — better research skills, stronger writing, smarter client conversations, creative problem-solving, and the confidence to say yes to opportunities you’d normally decline. It’s your monthly system for expanding what’s possible in your business. — Learn More
3. Work with me for 90 days
Need a trusted “sparring” partner to tackle your most pressing business challenges? I occasionally offer an intensive 90-day coaching program for freelancers at all income levels. We work together 1-on-1 to identify your most critical business obstacles, come up with innovative solutions and develop a customized, actionable plan. Email me at ed@b2blauncher.com with “90-Day Accelerator” in the subject line to learn more.
4. Banish 6-figure burnout
One of my core specialties is helping 6-figure freelancers earn more in less time with less stress. If you’re at that income level but you’re burning out and want to create a business that actually serves you, let’s connect. Email me at ed@b2blauncher.com and put “Boardroom” in the subject line and I’ll get back to you with more details.
