At Income Solutions we constantly talk about the ‘best investment you will ever make’ which is investing in yourself. We refer to the need for education and a focus on career (or business) as well as the time, money and discipline it takes. We encourage each other and our clients to be the best we can be in these areas.
Of equal importance is physical and mental wellbeing. In fact without this, the ability to deliver optimum results in work or elsewhere is diminished. In simplistic terms it could be said that mental health, at least from a stress management perspective, can be improved with physical exercise.
I know I have many times fallen foul of the easy to find excuses to not keep up with regular exercise: busy at work, busy at home with a young family and a few spots of rain starting to fall when I am supposed to go for a run. Put this along-side bad diet habits which are easy to slide into, and before I know it I’m looking in the mirror and wondering, “Who is this person staring back at me?”
Self-motivation is key but having a loved one give us encouragement can help; as can some inspirational external influences. A couple of stories which grabbed my attention this week are those of Steve Way and Doreen Flanders. https://www.theage.com.au/commonwealth-games-glasgow-2014/commonwealth-games-news/from-100kg-kebabeating-smoker-to-elite-marathon-runner-20140728-zxhz2.html
In his early 30’s Steve loved nothing more than a kebab, a few pints, a smoke and a counter meal. After a wakeup call he took to running and has never looked back. At aged 40 Steve just represented England in the marathon at the Glasgow Commonwealth games. He lost 40kg’s and trimmed his waste by 28cm. He is inspirational because he was not just a little bit over weight or with a few bad habits, he was obese with a dangerous lifestyle. Many, myself included, would be in danger of giving up at this point but Steve used his position as the catalyst for improvement.
We can’t all become elite runners, but we can find the thing we are good at to keep ourselves active. Doreen Flanders competed at this year’s Games in bowls as a 79 year old!
I recently had some clients in their mid-60’s join a gym and whilst neither are setting the world on fire (which was never their intent) both are showing fast improvement and feeling better for their efforts. A new study suggests short 6 second bursts of intense effort by those aged 60 and above, building steadily to just one minute of sustained activity twice per week, will show demonstrable benefits. Every little helps. Read more here https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/just-two-minutes-high-intensity-exercise-3920891
The benefits of regular exercise are many and varied; you don’t necessarily need to become an international athlete to reap these rewards, just do justice to yourself and enjoy it. Although, if Steve Way and Doreen Flanders are anything to go by, why not – Rio 2016 here we come!
By Gareth Daniels
Financial Planner
