Your Health is Your Wealth
“True wealth is having your health and knowledge of self”
- Benjamin Franklin
No one on their deathbed wishes they had more money, but they all wish they had more time. You’ve heard this before, and I think it is worth repeating. While pursuing our passions often overshadows our well-being, it’s easy to forget one important truth: your health is your wealth. This hits deep during a time when physical and mental wellness can significantly impact not just how we feel but how we live our best lives.
For over 35 years, I prepared the world's top athletes to perform at the highest level. During that time, I found that the pillars of health are sleep, exercise, nutrition, hydration, and the importance of steering clear of gimmicks. Each element is vital in crafting a lifestyle that promotes longevity and joy.
Sleep: The Unsung Hero
Sleep is often dismissed as an indulgence or an afterthought in our fast-paced lives. Yet our bodies heal and regenerate during those precious hours of slumber. According to sleep experts, adults need between seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night for optimal health. Insufficient rest can lead to cognitive decline, weakened immunity, and even chronic diseases.
Working with the top sleep consultants in the world, I found that there are three steps to obtaining your best sleep:
· Create a calming bedtime routine.
· Keep screens away at least an hour before bed.
· Optimize your bedroom environment—darkness, cool temperatures, and quiet are key allies.
By prioritizing sleep as an essential part of your health regimen, you unlock the door to enhanced productivity and emotional resilience.
Find Your Workout Niche: Movement That Inspires
I find my best training environment in a weight room. I’m an old iron head. It’s who I am. But I also know that the gym isn’t for everyone. Some people love to dance or do yoga, while others are avid runners who find their “safe place” when they run or walk. Others are outdoor enthusiasts who love to challenge themselves in rock climbing and hiking. The secret lies in finding what invigorates you—your unique workout niche that transforms exercise from a chore into pure joy.
If you haven’t found “your fitness space,” then try these ideas:
· Experiment with different activities, such as yoga, swimming, and martial arts.
· Join local clubs or classes where teamwork and personal interaction develop commitment.
· Listen to your body; choose exercises that fit with you emotionally and physically.
When movement becomes something you look forward to rather than dread, it seamlessly blends into your lifestyle … and trust me, the benefits will shine through!
Eat Right: Time and Volume
Food is more than fuel; it feeds both body and soul. However, diet fads promising rapid results can confuse anybody about what constitutes “eating better.” It’s time to redefine our relationship with food by understanding that when you eat is just as important as what you eat.
Food is there to give us energy during our day's work. When we eat our larger meals earlier in the day, we have time to utilize the advantages of the food we consume. When we eat a large meal later in the evening, we don’t have a chance to use the gifts that the food provides. Because our body is still primitive, it just doesn’t throw away what isn’t used; it stores the energy to be used later. The problem is that we never use it, and then we end up stacking up more unused energy in the form of fat.
Eating better means:
· Schedule your meals around your work and exercise plan.
· Practice portion control by eating slower. This gives your body time to tell you that you have had enough.
· Eat a variety of food types, balancing proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, and, of course, ice cream.
By planning our food intake, we can eat what we want, but we should use the food's value to propel ourselves through our day's work.
Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate
Water is so simple, so easy, and so always available. Why is it that, as a country, many of us are dehydrated? This clear, tasteless fluid is the key to your health and vitality. I must tell my athletes 10,000 times yearly to ensure they are hydrated. I drink at least a gallon and, more often than not, more than a gallon every day.
When we drink water, we help maintain the mechanics of our internal systems. Being hydrated will reduce inflammation. Drinking water throughout the day allows our digestion process to work more efficiently.
When we don’t drink water, everything slows down. We feel more tired, get sick more, and are constantly sore.
Water is powerful enough to transform our well-being! Staying hydrated fuels every function within our bodies, from digestion to cognitive clarity, but it’s often overlooked amidst our busy routines.
Here are some tips I gave to my athletes:
· Carry a water bottle everywhere; not only does it carry your water, but more importantly, it serves as a reminder!
· To break the monotony of water, add fruits such as lemon juice.
· Until you get into the habit of hydrating, set reminders on your phone to keep your consumption consistent during the day.
Embracing hydration leads to improved energy levels enhances skin health, and aids digestion, which is a true testament that sometimes simplicity holds immense power!
Stay Away from Gimmicks: Authenticity Over Illusion
There are no shortcuts to living your best life, and there are no get-healthy-quick schemes. While you are watching TV, scrolling through your social media, or listening to your most unhealthy friend tell you how to live your life better, know that all they are doing is trying to sell you a gimmick. I’m just saying that we must be careful as we walk through this minefield of misinformation.
The story here belongs to individual experiences and collective wisdom passed down through generations. It emphasizes patience over gimmicks when seeking genuine transformation! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Think about these three things the next time you are told about the new secret to whatever ails you:
· Rely on reputable sources for information regarding health trends.
· Consult healthcare professionals before embarking on any drastic changes.
· Trust yourself; progress takes time but builds lasting foundations!
Building Your Health Wealth
I can’t tell you how important these habits are—based on good sleep practices, a fitness plan tailored toward personal enjoyment, nutrition focused on when and volume, the transformative benefits of being hydrated, and staying clear from misleading shortcuts. We emerge empowered, armed with knowledge, transforming everyday choices into pathways toward living the lives we are meant to live!
Remember, we only get one chance at this “life” thing, so invest your time and effort into cultivating well-being because your health is your wealth! Let this journey inspire you to create balance, happiness, and vitality in each part of life ahead!
Have an amazing day!
