Healthy finances are a goal for many people but do you know that your health plays a crucial role in this endeavor?
When you start to talk about finances and money, your mind would naturally gravitate toward the topics of job security, budgeting, and even side hustles. More often, you overlook other factors that contribute to keeping your finances healthy. As much as money-related topics are important, your health has a major role to play in all these.
One reason for this is that your health might not actually be a top priority for you. Yes, you know it is important but there always seem to be priorities that trump your need to focus on health. It can be your job, your business, other hobbies or even fixing problems that come your way. Because of these, you tend to push the topic of your health down your priority list.
However, you need to understand that prioritizing your health is just as important as focusing on healthy finances. In fact, some people say that these two have a deeper connection than most people think. If you ever need proof of how important your health is, you just need to look at the events of the previous health pandemic that swept through the entire world.
As people started to get sick, they began to overwhelm medical facilities. This brought hospitals and other care facilities to unprecedented full capacity. Suddenly, health was now front and center as people tried to stay away from the virus. They realized the importance of being healthy at a time when there was a pandemic sweeping through the world.
But just how important is your health in relation to your finances? Here are a few things to look into so you can better appreciate the relationship between the two.
A healthy body gives you energy
You might think that investing in your health would leave you tired and low on energy. If this was the case, you might not have enough time to do all the things you need to be done. How about your schedule and all your to-dos at home? You also have a lot of deadlines in your work and you might even have a business that needs a lot of time and energy.
But if you stop and figure out your energy level once you start focusing on your health, you might be surprised. Your energy level could actually go up a notch because you are focusing on your health. A quick run n the morning does not deplete you with energy in the office but it actually gives you more to finish your tasks.
Not only will this added energy give you time for the office but it can help you manage your business better. You can even devote more time to your hobby and even upgrade your skills. Once you do, these all circles back to healthy finances because you start bringing in more income you need to reach your goals.
It helps you focus
There are also times when a healthy body leads to a healthier mind and this allows you to focus on tasks much better. Whether in the office or in running your business, you now have the ability to be more efficient in the things you do. Putting together reports on time or going over paperwork for your business seems easier.
But let’s face it, distractions are everywhere and this is one of the toughest hurdles to overcome when it comes to focusing. The ability to zone in on the task at hand and finish it without being distracted is now a rare occurrence for most people. As ideal as this sounds, there are instances where it is near impossible to do.
Multitasking is a skill that most people develop over time out of sheer necessity. There is debate about whether this actually helps people or not. But if you are able to focus on your task even if you have to multitask, then you are off to a great start. Not only can this lead to healthy finances but you get to accomplish a lot of tasks in a short amount of time.
It lowers the chances of getting sick
One very clear benefit of focusing on your health is lowering the chances of getting sick. By no means will it completely prevent you from catching common coughs and colds or other types of sickness. However, it can lower the chances of getting sick. A healthier body has a better chance of protecting you from getting sick.
And even if you do get sick, there is a higher chance of being able to bounce back and recover a lot faster as well. How does it all tie down to healthy finances? For one thing, less frequent sick days mean more time for work, business, and even in spending quality time with the people you love. The last one is already a big plus.
A healthier body can also translate to fewer doctor visits and even fewer medications compared to other people your age. This is a great advantage you can have because not only do you spend less money and time on doctor visits, it allows you to put that time somewhere else. It could be with family or even time for your hobbies.
Quick tips for a healthy body
Now that you have an idea of how your health can impact and give you healthy finances, here are a few things you can do to stay strong and healthy.
Ask your doctor about a complete check-up
In any situation, a clear understanding of your goals and the hurdles you need to face is important. In this case, your goal is to be healthy and stay that way. However, you need to know to understand your body well. And the best starting point for that is getting a schedule for your doctor asking about a complete physical check-up.
Taking this step gives you a lot to work with. For one, you get baseline data for your overall health. You get a clear picture of what you need to work on. As you get healthier, you can also use the findings from your check-up to help you track your progress. This is a great way to start your healthy journey.
Be conscious about your meals
A healthy body starts by giving it what it needs. This means healthy meals should be part of your overall plan. The best way to do it is to try and cook your own meals. This gives you total control over what you eat. There is also the chance of saving money since you will be the one buying all the ingredients as well. Buying ingredients in bulk and batch cooking can help you save time and money.
Put in the time to get your body moving
It is important to watch what you eat but you also need to make sure that you put in some time for exercise. What can put you off is the notion that you need to have a gym membership or start to buy expensive exercise equipment to begin. You do not need all that if you are just starting out. You can simply take a walk around the block or if you can, run and jog for a few minutes a day.
It is also possible to devote some time to a physical sport that you actually like. This can help you start with exercising. It can be baseball, football, or even basketball or volleyball. Anything that involves you moving your body is a good start. If you find that being in a gym helps you exercise better then that could be a good investment.
Manage your stress
Health is not always about your body, you need to take care of your mental health as well. Stress is a big factor in why a lot of people are having a tough time with anxiety and even depression. NBC shares that a recent survey showed how 87% of the respondents stressed out because of the rising costs of basic goods.
There is no one solution to mental health problems. But accepting that you are going through a tough time with your mental health is a good first step. You then try to identify ways to help you deal with and manage your mental health problems. It can be working with a medical professional or getting time off to deal with and work things out. The important thing are you take proactive steps to help you overcome your problems.
A healthy mind and body can lead to healthy finances if you are able to find the connection between them. Take the time to understand how one affects the other so you can integrate them into your overall plans.