Notably, Darren mentions that he was diagnosed with high blood pressure in the same post.

If you are a social media professional (blogger, marketer or otherwise), get your own blood pressure monitor, or consider updating your own lifestyle.

I think you need to take articles like the one in the NY Times with a grain of salt – unless you know you are in the danger zone yourself. There is no substitute for a balanced lifestyle, even though you don’t have to overdo it.

There are numerous lifehacking sites out there, helping you balance your health with working effectively and efficiently. Check out Zen Habits for great tips on keeping healthy.

In the wake of the NY Times article, there will probably pop up at least a dozen blogger posts with 25 ways to be a healthy blogger. Sure, you can list lots of tips, but I think when it comes down to it, balancing your life is individual, and there is not a single recipe for all. However, there are two important aspects to balance in your life; food and exercise. It’s that simple.

• Eat smart. You don’t have to be perfect and eat only vegetables or follow some strict diet. But do stay away from large quantities of sugar-packed products – they will increase your stress level and lower your stamina.
• Exercise. You don’t have to go to the gym every day, but do try to stay active in a way that fits your lifestyle. If you are a problogger working from home, get out running or on a bicycle three times a week – and stick to it. I play volleyball (and beach volleyball in the summer) and I love it. Find your own way, and stick to it.

Whether you’re a professional blogger or not, you need to balance your health with work, same as you need to make space for your personal life. Trust me, you’ll be a lot happier if you balance your life, and don’t overdo it on work, blogging or other activities.

How do you balance your life? Do you make time for yourself and your health?

I decided on Skype for our office need. It’s encrypted, and supports both chat, voip and video conferencing. Also, it’s more widely spread over Europe than a lot of the other options listed.

What’s your flavor?