Last week we looked at the connection between wealth and wellness, noting that ill health can jeopardise your finances. Sickness can decrease your work output, deplete your savings and destroy your plans for the future. You need to have good health to pursue great wealth.

Since wealth can be defined as a “plentiful source of a particular desirable thing”, you could say that good health is a form of prosperity in itself. Whether you have an income shortfall or you have significant net worth, you must preserve your health if you want to be truly financially secure.

Very often, persons will explain that a shortage of time and/or money hinders them from pursuing healthy lifestyles. Let’s look at some of the common excuses and outline some strategies that can help you to find the right balance between managing your wealth and maintaining your health.

You don’t have money for health check-ups

If your budget is stretched just trying to cope with your monthly bills, you may be tempted to forgo preventative screening and doctor’s visits. Ignoring your periodic check-ups may put you at risk of developing a major illness that could have been treated early, thereby increasing your health costs.

Your body is the vessel that earns for you, so health care should be a priority expense. Determine the total annual cost of going to the dentist and doctor, and divide this amount by 12. This is the sum of money you need to put aside each month to be able to afford your regular health visits.

You may need to eliminate other expenses each month so that you can save for your health care. If you really find it impossible to cut back on any bills, then you need to get creative and find a way to earn money part-time, and then allocate your extra income for maintaining your health.

You can’t afford to buy insurance

Despite the pressures that you may be facing with meeting your everyday expenses, it is essential to put aside some money to deal with life’s emergencies, such as illness or job loss. Your objective should be to amass between three to six months’ worth of your basic bills in an emergency fund.

However, it may take you a while to achieve this goal, and a major disease could strike at any time. Purchasing critical illness insurance will help to lower the risk of having to find a large sum to cover the cost of treating a serious illness such as cancer, or complications of diabetes or hypertension.

You may also need to consider obtaining major medical insurance, especially if you’re not covered under a workplace plan. The cost of the insurance premiums would be relatively low compared to the small fortune required to pay for diagnostic services, hospitalisation, surgery and therapies.

You don’t have time to eat healthy

Sometimes the lack of financial resources is not the issue; instead you may be overwhelmed with various responsibilities which prevent you from taking care of your health. There is so much going on that you just can’t find the time to make the right choices that will promote your well-being.

When you are on the go, you may be temped to compromise on eating properly. Healthy meals may be more costly and are not as prevalent in the take-out landscape. While fast food may be a convenient way to fuel your body, it can add too much sugar, fat and chemicals to your diet.

Your body will thank you if you invest the time to fix a wholesome meal. You could make juices or stock soups on the weekends and freeze them, to reduce your preparation time each day. Look around your environs for healthy eating options, or find a service that will deliver meals to you.

You’re too busy to relax or exercise

If you’re ambitious or goal-oriented, you may be so driven to succeed that you’re actually driving yourself into a state of ill health. Your mind is so focused on completing the next task on your agenda that you don’t recognise how much destructive nervous tension is building up inside of you.

Your body cannot thrive in a stressful state, so find ways to release the pressure. Sip some lemon balm or chamomile tea after a hectic day. Find the music channel on cable television that plays calming, spa-like music, close your eyes and listen to it without any distractions for 30 minutes.

To preserve your health, you may have to give up some of the activities in your busy schedule. Cut back on the committee meetings, PTA projects, late nights at work and other pursuits that may be wearing you out. You are not irreplaceable; so devote some alone-time to rest and rejuvenate.

Light exercise can actually help to relax your mind while it tones your body. Get a walking partner and set aside an hour in the morning or evening for this activity. Search for videos online with simple stretching and flexibility routines that will help you to breathe better and feel invigorated.

Copyright © 2015 Cherryl Hanson Simpson. No reproduction without written consent.

Originally published in The Daily Observer, April 23, 2015

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Cherryl is a money coach and business mentor, and founder of Financially S.M.A.R.T. Services. See more of her work at www.entrepreneursinjamaica.com and www.financiallysmart.org. Contact Cherryl