By Scott Keegan, Chief Operating Officer & Associate Wealth Advisor
The New Year is often a time for many people to set goals and try to adapt new habits or kick old ones. I saw a stat recently that I assumed but never knew for sure, 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the second week in February. To take it even further I found an article saying only 9-12% of people who set a New Year’s resolution are successful in keeping it by the end of the year.
Overwhelmingly, the most common New Year’s Resolution is to be healthier. As someone who loves to exercise and stay active, I think this is awesome! I even set a goal for myself to run 500 total miles in 2023.
I really believe our health is our greatest asset and we should invest in our greatest asset first and foremost. So it makes me sad to think that so many people every year want to become healthier but only stick to it for about a month before throwing in the towel.
Will you have health to enjoy wealth?
Every day we help clients prepare the financial side of their lives, but in all reality, more money does no good if you don’t have the health to truly enjoy it. It can be really sad to talk to someone who always wanted to travel throughout retirement but now doesn’t have the health to do the things they dreamed of. There are situations where things were out of their control (cancer, diseases, etc.) but so much of our health is within our control and the decisions we make.
Becoming healthier can look different for everyone. We have clients who are retired and run/bike 20+ miles a week and we also have clients who get their exercise by walking at the mall a couple of times a week. Regular exercise can improve your overall health in a variety of ways, like improved strength, increased energy, better balance, heart diseases prevention, better sleep, and reduced stress, just to name a few. Regular exercise is one of the best things we can do for our health, and we can start anytime!
Here are a few tips for getting into an exercise routine:
Consistency is more important than intensity.
- The 10-minute walk you do, does more for you than the 30-minute run you don’t do.
- Showing up is generally the hardest part.
Be realistic in your goals.
- Nothing is more discouraging that setting goals that aren’t realistic and then constantly not hitting them.
- Start slow and then build up.
Pick something you enjoy.
- Exercising should boost your energy and clear your mind, choosing something you enjoy will help motivate you to show up and keep you motivated.
Make it social!
- Exercise with others and have shared experiences. This could be anything from group classes at a gym to pickleball with friends.
Listen to good content.
- I love to listen to podcasts or audiobooks while I exercise. It can be a great way to learn something new or just distract yourself while working out.
You can start small.
The great news is you don’t have to become a marathoner to improve your health. You can start today and build from there and there are a number of ways to get started.
While hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of dollars may flow through your bank account or retirement accounts through the course of life, you only get one body so it’s vitally important to take our health seriously. Get up and get moving!
