3435: [Part 2] How to Build a Wellness Investment Plan by Kathy Robinson of Athena Wellness on Lifestyle Planning

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[00:00:30] This is Optimal Health Daily. How to Build a Wellness Investment Plan. Part 2 by Kathy Robinson of AthenaWellness.com. And I'm your narrator, Dr. Neal. Hey there, happy Thursday and welcome back to Optimal Health Daily, where I simply read to you from the best health and fitness blogs for free. I cover fitness, nutrition, stress management, weight management, and lots more.

[00:00:54] This is kind of like an audiobook, but with articles from a bunch of different authors. And of course, with their permission and always with a bit of my commentary at the end. Now, today's post is part 2 from yesterday. So, if you're new here or skipping around, I'd recommend listening to yesterday's episode first. But if you're all caught up, let's jump right in and hear part 2 and continue optimizing your life.

[00:01:22] How to Build a Wellness Investment Plan. Part 2 by Kathy Robinson of AthenaWellness.com. During my last years in corporate, my main wellness activities were long-distance endurance sports, such as biking and running. I also focused on sports nutrition to keep me fueled appropriately, along with a brief meditation practice I did first thing in the morning. For me, at the time, it covered all four areas. The physical element is obvious.

[00:01:50] But being out on the trails also gave me a mental break and an audacious growth goal to bike 300 miles or to run a 50k. Socially, it connected with new friends who had similar interests. And being out in nature and in my morning meditations connected me to something beyond myself and inspired me with possibility. Today, my wellness activities have shifted. I no longer need endurance sports to reduce my stress.

[00:02:17] Now, I focus on activities that encourage strength, flexibility, and balance, such as CrossFit, kickboxing, and hiking. And I no longer train for events. Instead, I make fitness dates with my friends. Also, I love taking long walks in nature. And my morning meditation is still a daily connection to the spiritual and natural worlds. So, as you can see from my examples, a few intentional activities that you enjoy can check a lot of wellness boxes

[00:02:46] and easily be incorporated into your days, even as your life shifts. Now that you know your options, it's time to create a diversified strategy by considering the investment opportunities that would make the most impact. Where would you like to make deposits today that will serve you now and pay off in the future in the form of an increased quality of life? Here's an example of how I created my wellness investment strategy when I was in my 30s.

[00:03:14] I simply asked myself three questions. 1. Of the four areas of physical, mental, social, and spiritual, which is most critical? The answer for me at the time was clear. My physical health. You can simply think of the answer to this question as your what. 2. By making an investment in my physical health, how would my life be transformed? The answer touches more than just the physical category.

[00:03:42] My overall well-being would benefit with more energy, focus, and mobility. And I'd experience the increased confidence that comes with looking and feeling better. You can simply think of the answer to this question as your why. And 3. Given my current circumstance, what investment is viable? I did not have the physical capacity to run an ultramarathon like I did a few years ago, and when I was just starting to focus on my health in my 30s.

[00:04:10] So, I selected a popular program at the time called Body for Life. It was a book by Bill Phillips that you can still buy today, and uses a combination of strength training, cardio, and nutrition that was very effective for me as a beginner. You can simply think of the answer to this question as your how. Once you have your what, why, and how, it's time to take action and create an investment plan. Create a schedule that invests your time appropriately.

[00:04:39] You can think of this step as your when. Using my Body for Life example for my 30s, I had to determine when I would A. Get my workouts in and B. Prepare my meals for the week. At the time, my partner and I commuted into Manhattan and left New Jersey each morning before 6.30. That meant I was either on the treadmill or weight bench at 5 a.m. We went food shopping on Saturdays and prepared our meals for the week on Sundays.

[00:05:08] Once your essentials are set up and your investment action plan scheduled, monitor your progress. I suggest following your plan for 90 days. In my case, the Body for Life book is a 12-week program that comes with tracking sheets. So that made it easy for me all those years ago. I still track my progress today using a combination of my calendar and simple logs, both manual and digital. Find something that works well for you. After three months, and every quarter after that,

[00:05:38] check in with yourself. Take a look at your efforts and determine if your investments are paying off. In 1999, I was still working in financial services when I did the Body for Life program. About eight weeks in, my colleagues began asking what I was doing because they could see the change in my body. Even so, I kept tracking and stuck to the program for years. So, create processes that you can work with for the foreseeable future. At some point, you may find yourself plateauing

[00:06:08] or less enthused with your wellness investment choices. That's when you rebalance your portfolio. Your life, body, and interests will change. Keep your wellness portfolio balanced with the intention of long-term sustainability. Adjust your plan as needed while making consistent deposits into your account. The wonderful thing about this approach is you get to enjoy the rewards today and in the future. It's a win-win all around. As we wrap up,

[00:06:36] I'd like to share a few words on something that acts like compounding interest, and that's a positive mindset, the foundation of active aging. Another dad story. In the 1930s, my father was a state champion gymnast. An injury prevented him from pursuing his dream beyond high school. In fact, I never saw him step foot in a gym, ever. Even so, his identity was that of a champion gymnast. It's how he carried himself, how he cared for himself,

[00:07:05] and how he flashed his skills from time to time on a chin-up bar or off a diving board when we were on vacation or in someone's backyard. And even in his late 80s, it's what drove him to become the oldest person to scale a rock climbing wall twice while enjoying a cruise with my mom. When we approach life with optimism and that kind of can-do attitude, we can reframe challenges as opportunities for discovery and growth. By cultivating a positive outlook, we can reduce stress,

[00:07:34] improve our mood, and amplify the effect of our wellness actions. You may even be inspired to challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone, reaching beyond what you think is possible today. It's never too late to start investing in your well-being. By taking small, consistent steps, you're making deposits into your future self. These investments will pay dividends for years to come in the form of improved health, increased energy, and greater happiness.

[00:08:03] As author Michael Easter reminds us, quote, most people today rarely step outside their comfort zones. End quote. By challenging yourself and embracing new experiences and adventures, you're not just investing in your health and happiness, you're compounding your potential to live a life that's truly extraordinary for a long time to come. You just listened to part two of the post titled

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[00:10:59] I said that we can get so trapped in the present and overwhelmed by what we have to deal with day to day that we don't take a moment to really think about the future. We may tell ourselves things like if I can just make it until my next paycheck then I'll start eating nutritiously again or this is my busiest time of year I just need to get through this then I'll get back to having a regular exercise program. But as we know those days never come. It's always busy. There will always be a reason

[00:11:28] we can't get started on our health habits right away. So here's what we need to do. Stop for a moment and just close your eyes and imagine what you look like when you're in your 70s 80s and beyond. What are you doing? How do you spend your time? Are you happy? What's making you happy? I'm willing to guess you're imagining a version of you that's active happy and possibly enjoying retirement. So the next question I had you think about yesterday was what can you do today

[00:11:58] that will help you get to that happy and healthy future you? I bet you know the answer. Now you just need to start. But how do we start? Well in today's article Kathy gave us lots of very specific suggestions to begin our journeys. The good news is you just need to pick one for now and get started. So now the question is which one are you going to start with? Alright that'll do it for today. Thank you so much for being here and listening every day.

[00:12:27] I hope you're having a great week and I'll see you back here tomorrow for our usual Friday Q&A and where your optimal life awaits.