In terms of physical well-being, self-employed individuals show results comparable to those of active employees. The NN barometer also includes a Physical Wellbeing Index. Self-employed respondents average 6.7 out of 10, while active employees average 6.4 out of 10. Nearly half of the self-employed (48%) report having high levels of physical energy, while 36% indicate that pain negatively impacts their well-being. Among employees, these figures are slightly less favourable: 43% report high physical energy, and 42% experience pain-related discomfort.

Prevention is better than a cure. The sixpack-for-life model developed by NN focuses on six aspects that help strengthen good mental health: sport, sleep, sabbatical (or long or short moments of renewal), social connectedness, identifying and tackling stressors, and self-knowledge. By paying the required attention to these six aspects, both during and alongside their work, the self-employed are able to take proactive measures, as well as reduce their stress and avoid heading towards a burnout. 

Moreover, the sixpack-for-life model doesn’t just have an effect on our mental health; the first two points – sport and sleep – also help strengthen physical wellbeing. 

The average self-employed person takes part in a physical activity of 30 minutes or more, resulting in a raised heart rate, on an average of 2.7 days a week. This includes sport, but also activities such as brisk walking.  

Self-employed people give their sleep quality an average score of 6.3 out of 10. They sleep slightly better than active wage-earners (5.8 out of 10), but the figure is lower than the general scores for well-being and happiness. Sleep quality, therefore, still leaves room for improvement, offering further opportunities to enhance the physical well-being of self-employed individuals.