How is your heart? According to cardiologists, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
Factors such as diet, stressors, mental health, and work environment play a key role in heart health in general and for women in particular. For a woman who has survived a heart attack, these are also pivotal in reducing her chances of experiencing another one.
Recent studies have examined the correlation between women who choose to be independent contractors and heart health. The good news: not only do we have the opportunity to follow our heart’s desire in regard to the work we do, but these studies show that being your own boss really can do the heart good!
Fight for Freelancers co-founder Kim Kavin spotlighted this survey by BMC Public Health on her “Freelance Busting” Substack, which outlined the findings done with women who are freelancers and independent contractors and the state of their mental and physical health, especially heart health. Kavin wrote,
BMC Public Health just published a cross-sectional analysis exploring the relationship between self-employment and cardiovascular disease.
The results:
‘We found that self-employment was associated with a favorable CVD risk profile among women, particularly non-minority women.’
Yet again, we have a study that adds to an undeniable pile of evidence, all of it making it quite easy to believe this eye-popping statistic from AARP:
‘The vast majority of women (98%) agreed that they made the right decision in starting their business.’
The AARP didn’t ask me what I think, but I count myself among that 98% of women who believe we made the right choice in being our own bosses.
My Story
I can also attest that making the decision to no longer seek traditional work and start my self-employment journey in 2010 has done good for my heart on a number of levels, including my mental health.
From my research, one aspect of heart health that is too scarcely documented is women’s mental health. Women are innate social creatures, so our social connections do much to shore up our hearts, keep us encouraged, and supply motivation and impetus to pursue our bliss.
One benefit of no longer being pigeonholed into traditional work is time to pursue deeper social interactions that do not involve vocation. I found it exhilarating to be free to pursue civic interactions through Meetups and chambers of commerce, as well as deeper relationships through the church.
Because I am now able to craft my work around my schedule, rather than the other way around, I have regularly participated in women’s groups and Bible studies that meet in the mornings (my preferred time). These interactions are a huge boost to my mental and spiritual well-being. Having things to look forward to is a big part of this.
Having the freedom to attend to my metabolic concerns and engage in activities that help control stress is a win. In 2022, I was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic, which, if not controlled, will adversely affect not only your cardiovascular system, but also your sight and mobility. Because my lab numbers were so high, I was given the usual spiel by the doctor that this condition couldn’t be corrected without pharmaceuticals. However, I have been MAHA before MAHA was cool, so I rejected this premise.
Professionals like our Surgeon General appointee, Dr. Casey Means, have said that this metabolic disease is a result of lifestyle, so lifestyle changes can reverse it. I had already made the positive lifestyle change of choosing freelance work and my own schedule, so this empowered me to go the holistic route and make those other lifestyle changes.
With the help of functional practitioners, I changed my diet, delved more into Yoga and other muscle-building exercises, and managed my stress with the built-in help of my social groups. Two years later, those numbers have significantly reduced, and the diabetes is in remission.
If not for the flexibility of being an independent professional, which allowed me to attend to my dietary needs, adjust my workouts, and coordinate office visits around my schedule, this would not have been possible.
Being attached to a 9-to-5 job would have meant a round-robin of taking days off work and being forced to manage my health concerns around work, rather than managing my work around my health concerns.
With the traditional jobs of my past, scheduling routine doctor visits was always a process of paperwork and hoop jumping, so it would have been extremely difficult to maintain the regimen required to get me to this place of remission aside from independent work.
The Importance of Protecting Independent Contracting
Our own Independent Women’s survey, conducted during May’s Small Business Week, affirmed the psychological and physical benefits that self-employment affords, why women choose it, and why it is critical that we continue to have this choice.
According to the polling data, eighty-two percent (82%) of women and overall voters, joined by eighty percent (80%) of young voters and seventy-nine percent (79%) of seniors, agree that the government should not force people to work 9-to-5 jobs, but instead allow people the flexibility to be independent contractors.
Because of caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, or other priorities, women and older Americans turn to independent contracting rather than traditional employment. 86% of seniors, 85% of all voters, and 84% of women agree that independent contracting is a good option for people seeking flexible jobs.
For women, the benefits, flexibility, and increased health are game-changers that we cannot and will not surrender. For some of us, the health of our hearts depends upon it.