This episode focuses on freelancers' health. For people working on their own, managing their health is more than personal self-care: it is preparation that keeps the business itself from coming to a halt. We explore how to protect your health, drawing on habits Masa has maintained for around fifteen years and differences between freelancers in Japan and the United States.
Protecting a Working Life That Leaves Little Room for Time Off
HAL: Why is looking after your health so important when you work on your own?
Masa: As a freelancer, you really can't leave a gap in your work because you suddenly become ill or get injured. I've never really been able to do that, so it's something I've kept in mind ever since my twenties.
A Running Habit Maintained for Fifteen Years
HAL: I hear you have a habit you've kept up for a long time. What benefits have you noticed?
Masa: I've been running ten kilometers in the morning twice a week for about fifteen years. It feels like I've missed my chance to stop, so I just keep going. First of all, I don't tire as easily. Once it becomes a habit, running doesn't leave you depleted, and you recover quickly. Also, to run in the morning you have to get up early, which means you can sleep during the so-called golden hours between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. I feel that makes a huge difference.
One Thing to Start Tomorrow
HAL: If listeners were to start just one thing tomorrow, what would you recommend?
Masa: Walking, definitely. Brisk walking is fine: walk fast enough to raise your heart rate. I think that's a good place to start.
Things Are Improving in Japan
HAL: There are differences between countries too. Although long working hours remain a challenge in Japan, there are signs of improvement, helped by initiatives such as municipal health screenings. Do you feel things are getting better in Japan yourself?
Masa: Yes, I do feel those things are improving in Japan.
Why Health Problems Can Arise in the United States
HAL: Meanwhile, although self-employed people in the United States have relatively good exercise habits, concerns have been raised about chronic illness and mental health. Suggested reasons include unstable income and limited social protection creating stress, while long hours and isolation increase health risks. What have you seen among the people around you?
Masa: That's part of why I turned the healthcare knowledge I've studied into a service, which I've now launched as happyberryhealthcare.ai. I've been working since my twenties, and among the people around me, all-nighters were normal, along with drinking and smoking. Perhaps that has taken its toll: quite a few have died, and some have turned to crime and are serving time in prison. Of course, there are people who take care of themselves too, but even now some can't turn down work and stay up all night, or have completely reversed their days and nights. From what I see and hear around me, I don't feel things are moving toward better health.
Investing in Health Is Business Risk Management
HAL: That perspective comes from seeing the situation firsthand. If you had to sum up the message you most want to convey about working in a way that protects your health, what would it be?
Masa: Some of the material that makes up the human body is only partly replaced over a lifetime. Whether aging progresses, and whether it progresses quickly or slowly, ultimately depends on your lifestyle. In my case, I've kept running since my twenties, so I'm less likely to lose muscle strength and have been able to slow my aging. Conversely, if you keep avoiding exercise, paying no attention to your diet, and staying up late, aging progresses. Eventually, somewhere down the line, that will inevitably cause your working life to break down. Something like being unable to work for almost a year because of illness can easily happen. That's why, even if it costs a little more, spending money on your health is much cheaper when you consider the costs of getting sick. That's how I see it.
The Next Habit to Try
HAL: Finally, is there a new habit you'd like to try to protect your own health?
Masa: Once this huge wave of AI settles down, I'd like to take Saturdays and Sundays—the weekends—off.
'Taking time off is also a business strategy.' That perspective emerged in this conversation as well. The full episode goes into more detail about Masa's experiences and the circumstances of freelancers in Japan and the United States. Be sure to watch the full video on YouTube too.
