Don’t think there’s a connection between your health and your money? Think again! Physical wellness connects to financial wellness and financial wellness connects to physical wellness. In simpler terms: health is wealth. If you’re not healthy, physically or mentally, it really doesn’t matter how well-off you are financially. You won’t be in a position to enjoy it.
To further drive this connection, I’ve found a common thread among my money coaching clients: when they invest to work with me as their money coach, they’ve also invested or started focusing on their physical health at the same time. They are diet conscious. They are getting physical activity in. They are using their budget to allocate money to healthy foods.
If you want to get your finances in order, I suggest you work to get your health in order too! I’m sharing 6 ways physical wellness connects to financial wellness, and why you should be focusing on improving both areas of your life regularly.
6 Ways Physical Wellness Connects to Financial Wellness
#1 Energy Levels Impact Productivity and Earning Potential
You know that saying “when you look good, you feel good”? Well, I’m going to give it a facelift: “when you feel good, you work good”! Your energy levels can directly impact your productivity and earning potential. The more energy you have, the more capable you are of getting better work done. Better work usually results in more income. High energy levels come from good physical health.
On the flip side, poor physical health leads to fatigue, which can reduce work performance. This can have direct or indirect effects on your money. Ultimately it comes down to making sure your physical health is in tip-top shape. More energy leads to better job performance, which can lead to career growth and business success.
Not only that, prioritizing your physical health boosts your mental clarity, helping you make better financial decisions. Make it a point to get regular movement in, get your sleep hours in, and eat foods that are conducive to you feeling your best.
#2 Medical Costs Can Drain Your Finances
I can’t even begin to share everything that’s wrong with the American healthcare system, so I’ll focus on the main thing…it’s too damn expensive! Even when you’re healthy, you could be spending a lot of regular insurance. This is especially true when you work for yourself. Unfortunately, if you’re on the unhealthy side, you could be spending even more money.
Poor health leads to higher medical bills, prescriptions, and unexpected expenses. It also gets worse over time. Poor health can directly impact your ability to make money. When you can’t bring enough money in, you can’t pay for the help you need to feel better. It’s a dangerous cycle that should be avoided.
One way to prevent the cycle is by prioritizing preventative care (exercise, healthy eating, routine checkups). This helps you save money in the long run, as well as keep your income-earning potential as high as possible. Financially smart choices include investing your time (and money) into your health now to avoid costly medical emergencies later.
#3 Healthy Habits Promote Better Financial Discipline
Developing routines like meal prepping and exercising builds discipline, both for your health and your finances. Meal prepping means you’re not spending extra money on other food, because you have food at home to eat! Exercising builds the discipline you need to stick to a healthier diet. Why workout so hard in the gym only to eat bad outside of it?
The same discipline applies to managing money—budgeting, saving, and avoiding impulse spending. Planning meals = saving money on takeout; planning finances = reducing wasteful spending.
When you’re focused on improving your finances, it’s easy to put the focus on improving your health. I see so many clients who get into a groove with their budget, so they shift the focus to getting into a groove with their physical health. They truly go hand in hand.
#4 Stress and Poor Health Lead to Impulse Spending
Emotional and physical stress can trigger retail therapy and unhealthy financial decisions. How many times have you justified bad spending behavior because you had a terrible day? When we feel like crap, we seek out the hit of dopamine to make ourselves feel better in the moment. Shopping is a common go-to.
Exercise and healthy habits make you feel better, which reduces stress, leading to more mindful spending. When my clients spend out of emotion, I like to help them find ways to feel better that don’t require breaking the budget. For example, I’ll encourage them to avoid shopping as a stress reliever, and shift to activities like walking, yoga, or meditation to feel better.
#5 Investing in Health Is a Long-Term Money Saver
Quality food, fitness, and preventative care may seem expensive upfront, but it actually helps save money in the long-term. Think about it…gym memberships and healthy groceries are cheaper than chronic illness treatments! I’d rather spend my money on quality food and quality exercise than have to spend it in the future on medical treatments.
Viewing health expenses as an investment rather than a cost changes the financial perspective. It shifts the mindset from spending to investing. You don’t just have another expense to add to your budget, you have a new investment that will provide you with long-term dividends and returns.
#6 Confidence in Health = Confidence in Finances
Taking control of your physical health boosts self-confidence, which spills over into your finances. Not only do you make better spending decisions, but you feel more confident by being in control of your spending. When you feel good, you’re more likely to take charge of money matters.
I’ve been working out regularly for a decade and I can honestly say the discipline I use in my workouts is the same discipline I use in my budget. Health and finances are connected in so many ways, especially if we can foster both of them at the same time. Feeling strong and capable in physical workouts translates to confidence in managing spending, making investments or starting a business.
Related: 4 Ways Your Health Can Save You Money in the Future
It’s safe to say that physical wellness and financial wellness go hand in hand. You can’t fully master one without the other. While it can seem like a lot to focus on all at once, take small steps! Healthy habits and mindful money management can take you far in life!
Have you experienced the direct connection between physical wellness and financial wellness? What are your thoughts on the two being bundled together? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
-Raya
The CGS Team
