Posted on August 20, 2025

We often check our 401Ks, 403Bs, or pension accounts for an update - a status check - to see where we are and what we need to do to reach our desired goal. Subsequently, we adjust or make any changes needed to ensure that we are on track to get to where we want to go. At other times, we may be right on target and need only to maintain our course.

Why is it so easy for us to be fully invested in our financial health yet pay little attention to our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health? One of the reasons may be the immediate, and tangible nature of money. We can measure our money day by day and step by step in dollars and cents.

The ways in which we neglect our bodies are many. Here are just a few: through poor eating habits consuming an abundance of processed food, exercising sporadically or not at all, not managing our stress, not getting sufficient sleep, and not taking care of our emotional health. Continued self-neglect in these areas leaves indelible marks on our bodies even if they are invisible in the short-term.

Over time, continued self-neglect, results in the seemingly invisible marks becoming visible; these marks may later manifest as hypertension, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. While it is true that hereditary and other factors can contribute to these diseases, our ability to shape our health over the long-term is much greater than previously realized.

So today, I encourage you to take action on your total health – and not just on your finances.

· Do your annual physical.

· Do all required exams at appropriate ages and appropriate schedules e.g. pap smears, mammograms, PSA tests, colonoscopy and bone density exams.

· Learn to listen to your body.

· Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

· Lose the blue light when you retire to bed or even right before you go to sleep. Blue light before bed can negatively impact your circadian rythmn.

· Do some form of aerobic exercise that you enjoy at least 3x per week. Do some strength training at least 2x per week. This helps with continued excellent mobility as we age. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 150 hours of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a weekly basis and 30 minutes of strength training twice per week.

· Think positive thoughts. Be careful what you consume through social media, television etc. What are you feeding your system? Be careful what you ingest.

· Manage your stress. Deep breathing exercises and meditation are proven ways to reduce stress.

· Engage with others – family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Live your life with purpose. The wealth you gain will be immeasurable.

Jacqueline Walcott, Integration Nutrition Health Coach Certificate in Health, Coaching from Institute of Integrative Nutrition.                     

Saluber Coaching LLC