I’m sure you’ve been putting all sorts of savings in to your IRA. Probably have talked to a financial person and made sure everything is planned out so you have a great retirement ahead. But, what have you put in to your IRAH?
What the heck is an IRAH? Well, it’s an Individual Retirement Account for HEALTH!
Most people are really focused on investing in their IRA, knowing that it’s super important for their financial future. But, what good will all that money be if you are laid up in a hospital bed? Kind of a harsh reality to throw out there, but it is the literal truth. With all of my years working in nursing homes, I have crossed paths with so many people in their 70s, 60s, and even 50s that wish they would have done things differently. Wishing they would have made the necessary positive changes to their lifestyle sooner, so they wouldn’t be in a state that was now too late to reverse. Unfortunately, health is one of those things that you don’t realize you need to invest in it until it’s gone.
So enough with the gloom and doom…..
You will not be one of those people living in regret and instead you’ll be out having fun and living it up, right? Good – glad we are on the same page. Now we can answer this burning question:
What can you do today to invest in your health?
That can be a bit of an overwhelming thing to answer, don’t you think?!
Let’s break it down into 4 simple parts….
1. Make It Personal
Imagine your future….
How do you feel? What are you doing?
Are you an active and energized chasing around your grandkids, hiking up mountains, or talking morning walks along a beach? Really visualize what you want and what inspires you for your future and then write it down. Pen to paper makes it tangible and it’s easier to set goals towards something you can stare at. Heck, make a collage and hang it on your wall if that’s more your style.
This future you decide on becomes why you are choosing to follow a healthy lifestyle path. I challenge you to really establish a strong and meaningful “why” because that is what will propel you forward no matter what situations are thrown your way.
And when you feel like things get tough or you’re falling off track, pull out this paper and get back in touch with why this matters so much to you. It will make you bulletproof and allow you to find strength you never knew you had.
2. Figure Out Your Health Budget
How much are you spending right now on your health?
Well, we kind of need to break it up in to two parts – sick care and wellness care – because you might find that you’re putting your money in the wrong places.
First, think about your missed days of work from being sick yourself or taking care of your sick kids, doctor’s visits, prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines in your cabinet, and Kleenex…don’t forget out the Kleenex – ha!
Now, think about your wellness, which would be all of those positive things you spend on your health and wellness. Think gym memberships, exercise equipment, essential oils, Juice Plus, organic foods, or body work for example.
After adding each category up, it sure is amazing how much is spent on sick care, isn’t it? For me, just one visit to the doctor alone is over $100 out of my pocket and that is with insurance – yikes!
What if I told you that if you spent more of your budget on wellness, your sick care costs would go down….do you believe me?
Starting to do simple changes to bump up your health budget will over time make a huge reduction of your sick care costs. And the best part…you’ll be feeling awesome and energized! And so will everyone in your family! Sounds so much better than running to the doctor, fighting your kids to take medicine, or coughing up a storm due to colds or allergies, doesn’t it?
So, let’s get going on making those changes….
3. Start with One Simple Change
Just one. Make it small. Make it specific.
Saying that your change will be starting to exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, or reducing stress sounds awesome, but general statements like that have a very low success rate. You see, it has to be a specific and measurable change so that you can be sure you are accomplishing it and also able to build upon it.
An example would be exercising for 15 minutes, 3 times per week or meditating for 10 minutes each morning. For nutrition, an easy way to jump start on the whole food path is as simple as adding Juice Plus every day. A rainbow of fruits and vegetables can support healthy cravings and has numerous health benefits. It helped propel me on my wellness journey and has positively impacted my family in so many ways. You can learn more about my story here.
Decide on One Simple Change and each week, add another one. Make sure to keep it doable – having success keeps you motivated. It’s surprising that with only making small changes, in a short time you will have made a big impact on your health.
4. Get a Support Community
Change is hard, especially with today’s busier than ever schedules. That’s why you don’t need to go it alone. Finding a supportive community that is working on healthy changes is a great way to stay motivated, get ideas, answer questions, and hold yourself accountable. Our Juice Plus healthy living revolution community is 630+ members and growing every week. We’d love for you to join us!
Fun events are our thing and the next one starting in December is our 12 days of Christmas Smoothie Challenge! Comment below and we can add you to the group.
If you’re looking for more one-on-one support, I’ve got you covered with individual coaching sessions where we can really work together as a team. There’s so much more to share so don’t wait and get your first session scheduled here.
A dream without a plan is just a wish.
It’s time to take action, make things happen, and invest in your IRAH!
We can do this together. Reach out…I’m here.
