America is one of the wealthiest countries in the world with a GDP of over $16 trillion. Most of us have cars, clothes, and even a flat screen TV; however, even though we are "all about the Benjamins" we seem to have forgotten what he stands for--Freedom . There is a freedom in being healthy, which is like nothing money can buy. I am an avid cruise-ship vacationer and have come to the realization that a lot of the people cruising with me are in the 80+ crowd. If I have learned anything from this group of octogenarians, it is that health is your most valuable asset. You may be staying in the Neptune suite, but if you are no longer mobile then you cannot enjoy all there is to see and do in the ports of call.
So below are three ways you can use get a little more of the most valuable thing in the world: time.
Invest. Buy Food. I know we all must purchase food, but the importance of purchasing and consuming food that will nourish us is often set aside so we can have the hottest purse, video game or iPhone. Healthy food is an investment in your wellbeing--both body and mind. You may think you're saving money by always buying off the dollar menu, but I assure you that you're stealing from yourself in the long run. In fact, the cost, per person, for obesity is $1,723 per year, on average with that number increasing as you get older. Allotting a realistic amount of capital for food is critical to your health. If you have to rearrange your budget, do it. Skipping tickets to this summer's concert will not kill you but skipping meals may.
Plan. Block Off Wellness Time. Scheduling yourself time for both calories in and calories out will allow you to provide wellness the priority spot it deserves. Block off time in your calendar for meals and for workouts. Whether you're boxing or blueberry-ing your health is valuable and needs to be a priority. If you are constantly interrupted by email, pop-in's and side projects you will never have the time for wellness, so turn off the devices and just enjoy the moment. Stress, in fact, floods the blood stream with sugar, which, overtime, can help lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Grow. Learning to Compound Your Interest. Compound interest is interest on interest. What does that mean? Well, when we invest something, whether it's money or health, if we keep taking it out or stopping it from growing, then we can never earn from it. If it's starting a new gym or trying to eat breakfast every day, the consistency of allowing the good to build upon the good, allows this new investment to work. Stop switching what you think is healthy and go with simple, easy to comply with goals. Don't plan for a 4-course meal every night, stick to a balanced menu and do the fancy when you have a chance. Once you have mastered the easy stuff you can build on your wellness investment by adding small but measurable changes like increasing your omega-3 intake one month, adding some whole grains the next month, and before you know it you're knee-high in health, swimming in it Scrooge McDuck style.
Getting rich off health may seem challenging because we are working with capital that doesn't mature for 10, 20 or 30-years down the line. However, health does have a value whether it's the number of years your choices help you to extend your life or the number of inches your waist shrinks by, always keep good health in the bank.
Be Fearless, Be Full.