(FinancialHealth.net) – Everyone neglects self-care now and again. We get busy with work, focus on loved ones, or just plain can’t find the time to properly take care of ourselves as we should. This is just part of the human experience.
It’s only common sense to say that failing to take care of yourself isn’t good for your physical or mental health. But what you might not know is that neglecting self-care can seriously harm your wallet, too. In fact, taking care of yourself just happens to be one of the very best ways to save money.
Here’s why.
A Healthy Diet Costs Less
Most Americans spend far more on their groceries than they need to. Not only does the average person overeat, but they also indulge in too many processed foods and “quick meals.” These convenience items might be easy to work with, but you pay for that ease of use at the register.
The “cheapest” way to eat, even in our struggling economy, is still to focus on healthy, whole foods and basic staples, such as rice and beans. They’re also more affordable if you shop at your local farmer’s market instead of Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. But even just reassessing how much you are eating, and where you might pare back, can help.
Do you really need four Twinkies a day?
Exercise Leads to Fewer Medical Bills
Disclaimer: always seek your doctor’s approval before starting an exercise plan.
According to the HHS, the average American should get around 150 minutes of exercise per week — or as much as their chronic conditions allow, where applicable. It’s easy to avoid making that a priority when you’re busy with work, grandkids, and the stresses of life. But not getting enough exercise is directly correlated with so many serious (and potentially, even fatal) physical health conditions. For example, heart attack, stroke, and chronic pain.
We don’t need to tell you how expensive ER visits can be. But even being diagnosed with less emergent conditions comes at a cost. Your health insurance may go up, and you might need to take expensive blood pressure medications. You might even need surgery.
Getting active can help you prevent or turn these conditions around. That’s especially true for lifestyle-influenced illnesses such as high blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes. Just be sure you’re pairing additional exercise with a healthy diet to fuel your body for active fun.
Stress Lowers Illnesses, Too
That monthly massage or yoga class might seem like an excessive indulgence, especially if you’re on a tight budget without much wiggle room. But if it helps wick away stress? It just might be worth every penny you pay. Too much stress (and too little self-care) can lead to both physical and mental illnesses over time — and that’s a recipe for additional costs, too.
But there are more subtle impacts that affect your wallet, too. Poorly handled stress will absolutely decimate your ability to sleep right, work productively, and learn new things. That makes getting through your day, and even generating income, so much harder.
The same is true for counseling, therapy, or even just learning to be okay with saying “no” when people ask you for help. You HAVE to make time for YOU before you can be successful.
Cut the Bad Habits to Thrive
What do smoking, drinking, and using illicit substances have in common? They all have serious impacts on your health and they cost money. Cutting back on those bad habits will have a direct and immediate impact on your ability to save. But it may also help protect you from inflated medical insurance premiums, costly medical bills, and even strained family relations.
Oh, and let’s talk about wearing a seatbelt, too. It’s the simplest self-care action you can take, yet it might help save you from broken bones or an untimely death. That’s priceless!
How to Take Care of Yourself
So, how can you refocus on self-care and protect your wallet at the same time? Motivational speaker Brian Tracey shares his foolproof plan for success in this video.
These aren’t surface-level tips that only work for the rich, either. Tracey specifically focuses on what works for those who are busy, stressed, exhausted, and short on time. Heed his words and you just might find yourself saving money and feeling better, too.
~Here’s to Your Financial Health!
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