Let’s be real , working from home sounds like paradise at first.
No traffic, no boss, no annoying coworker microwaving fish in the office kitchen.
Just you, your laptop, and “freedom.”
Until… it hits you.
You’re sitting 12 hours a day, eating random snacks, scrolling between projects, and slowly losing your mind, and eating more junk food because you’re going crazy and your brain requires sugar now.
Your “freedom” turns into chaos, and we all know this: your body feels like it’s melting into the chair waiting for a reason to get out of there.
That’s when I discovered cooking, not as a hobby, but as therapy for freelancers.
The Mental Side of Cooking
Freelancing messes with your head sometimes, and because you can’t hit a client trough the screen you resume to cut something with the kitchen knife – anything that is already dead, like a fish or some chicken breast lol.
You wake up thinking about deadlines, clients, invoices, and suddenly it’s 5 PM and you’ve only eaten one biscuit and a dream. If this sounds like your daily routine, then read this whole article because it may save your life, literally!
This is why cooking became my reset button.
When I cooked, I wasn’t chasing clients or stressing about Upwork proposals, I was chopping vegetables, feeling textures, smelling flavors.
For 30 minutes, I was in control, and more important, my mind had this time to relax aand think about new ideas freely.
Cooking slowed my brain down, but somehow, it made my business run smoother.
3 Ways Cooking Transforms Freelancers
1. It forces real breaks.
You can’t reply to a client while sautéing onions (well, not unless you like burnt onions).
Cooking makes you pause, and your brain needs that downtime to process creative work.
2. It rebuilds discipline.
Freelancers often lack routine. Cooking gives structure: plan meals, buy ingredients, follow steps, finish what you started.
Sound familiar? That’s literally project management.
3. It keeps you connected to yourself.
Cooking is one of those few offline things left.
No screens, no apps, no “ping!” sounds — just real life happening in your kitchen.
4. You save time and money
It may sound as a strech but you will finish cooking before your uber eats arrives, and also it’s cheaper because you’ve made it at home, there’s no question about it.
Fuel, Not Just Food
I used to think productivity meant skipping meals. “I’ll just eat later.”
But energy doesn’t work like that.
When you feed your body junk, your brain gives you junk ideas.
Real meals = real energy = real results.
Try this freelancer-friendly meal plan:
- Morning: a big omlete with 5-6 eggs and bacon
- Lunch: Chicken or tofu + rice + veggies (clean fuel)
- Evening: Fish or lentils + salad (light but nutritious)
No fancy diet — just stuff that keeps your focus steady.
Bonus: Cooking Inspires Creativity
Here’s the fun part: my best project ideas came while cooking.
Why? Because creativity flows when your brain is relaxed.
Ever notice how you get ideas in the shower? Same deal, when you peal potatoes you’re more creative, boom!
Cooking lets your thoughts wander — and that’s when breakthroughs happen.
If you’re a freelancer reading this and an you’re still not convinced, then you need to check this out:
=> Why Freelancers Should Cook At Home More
Closing Thought:
Cooking didn’t just feed my stomach, it saved my freelance career.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Or code, or write, or design on an empty stomach.
So yeah, maybe success actually smells like garlic and butter, or maybe I just like to eat a lot, who knows:))
