Saving for retirement is a long term effort. The sooner we start, the bigger the potential amount we will have upon retirement.
Achieving and maintaining good health is similar. We may not see the immediate benefit, but if we do not start, sooner or later we may regret not doing it. And the sooner we get into it, the more benefit we will get out of it.
I know it is easier said than done. I have personally experienced it too. It is not easy to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle. It gets harder every passing year.
It takes effort and will power
In my younger days I could eat whatever I wanted plus dessert and be able to shake it off easily. Now, it takes more effort to shake it off. And if I am not intentional, I would not put in the effort to exercise to shake it off.
The exercise that works for me may not work for you. For me personally, I chose running. Every week. But it is not for everyone. You ought to pick an exercise that suits you. The most important matter is that we start. And we persist in doing it.
Healthy eating also varies from one individual to another. Different diet has different impact to our bodies and often there are other members in the household that can be affected by a change in meal plan. But like exercising, eating healthier has an immediate impact to our health. So it is worth our while to make a concerted effort to eat healthier.
And don’t forget the importance of enough sleep. We often get captivated in front of our electronic screen that we postpone going to sleep. Whatever content we are consuming will still be there the following day. Let us be mindful of our sleep needs.
Do it for the opportunities
Good health helps us enjoy life better. And the longer we are able to stay healthy, the longer we can enjoy life to the fullest. Be it to do our hobbies or to travel or to spend time with families and friends.
Even if we already have a chronic health condition, let us improve our overall health. In doing so, we may minimise the limit this condition may impose on us in the future.
We do not yet know what opportunities will avail themselves years from now. But poor health leads to less opportunities. And good health leads to more opportunities.
Do it for cost avoidance
It does not need to be expensive, but maintaining good health costs money.
Proper exercise gear helps us avoid injury and improves our enjoyment. This costs money. Some of us may choose to exercise in the gym or join a club. Not free either.
Switching to healthier eating can also cost money. If we want to prepare the meals ourselves, then we need to invest time and energy to make healthy meals. If we buy, some healthy options might be more expensive than "junk food".
Think of the potential extra cost as a long term investment. The money, energy, and time we invest to achieve good health and maintain it will help us enjoy our retirement years better. I think this alone is worth the “investment”.
At the same time, healthcare is expensive and getting more and more expensive. The healthier we are in retirement years, the less we need to spend on healthcare costs. Hopefully the small increase now to achieve good health will lead to big healthcare cost avoidance in retirement years.
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Knowing the benefits does not make it easier. We need to be intentional and persistent.
Have a great day.
Disclaimer: Anything I share is not intended as financial advice; I am merely sharing personal opinions and experiences. The information is of general nature and you should only use it as a place to start your own research and you certainly should do your own due diligence. You ought to seek professional financial advice before making any decisions.