Muscle for Value, like Ozil

Muscle for the Money…

You’ve heard it a million times, but it remains true: exercise is vital to happy living. As Arnold Schwarzenegger has said “Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body.”  But what you may not have heard about in the past is the impact of active living on your wallet. Recent studies explore the depth in which exercise positively (or negatively) influences your finances. Now, you don’t need to have muscles the size of cantaloupes, but are you interested to see how healthy exercise habits can build you up financially?

Income

One recent study aimed to explore the direct effects of physical activity on income. The results showed that regular exercise positively influenced long-term (15 year) earning potential. Physically active participants received incomes 14-17% higher than those who were less active (Psychology Today).

Sleep
Lack of exercise costs in the form of rest. How to Fall Asleep, published by Discovery Fit and Health explains that exercise improves sleep, but in particular, cardiovascular activity in the late afternoon was highly recommended. Activity heightens your metabolism, allowing your temperature to fall just before bed, which is a trigger for sleeping. And now for the ROI, exercising saves you money on items like coffee and reversely sleeping pills. As for you wake hours, are you in needing a boost in performance effectiveness?  Exercising which we talked about leads to, getting better sleep , leads to improved job performance, correlating to higher earning potential.

Healthcare
Not only do those who exercise more earn more, but health care costs are typically lower. Many organizations are now introducing wellness programs to help employees stay healthy. Don’t disregard the offer.  Although we can’t speak for all other organizations, the Center For Work Life program gets employees not only to become aware of their power over their health and differentiating health factors, it also gets them engaged to feel the wins and make marked progress each and everyday. Take that for a big chunk back in your wallet.

Medical Emergencies
Investing in a fit lifestyle reduces your chances of heart attacks, strokes, and other potentially life altering medical emergencies. CNBC’s Health Care Reporter, Dan Mangan, recently reported on a study from Nerd Wallet Health which revealed that medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcies in the country. In truth, active individuals are less likely to engage in unhealthy habits such as smoking, unbalanced diets buffering them against illnesses such as heart disease, or even more devastating setbacks like depression.  

A gym membership or joining a fitness class may cost you now, but exercise can save expenses in the long run. From emotional wellness, improved productivity, and lower stress levels exercise gives you a bang for your buck. Make your impact like Ozil, who recently signed the third most expensive football player contact in British history. Health equates to higher value.

For more Tips for Healthy Professionals here are more articles:

Where Would You Be Without Your Body?
25 Stress Management Tips

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