5 Ways A Fitness Plan Could Help You Make More Money
Deep Dive
Takeaway: Regular fitness can contribute to financial success by fostering traits like discipline, long-term thinking, and impulse control, which are valuable in managing finances effectively. Additionally, being physically fit can enhance confidence, resilience, and the ability to seek better job opportunities, ultimately leading to higher earning potential.
Two things many of us have in common: We’d love to have more fitness and we’d certainly not mind more money.
Is there a connection between the two?
Does being more physically fit lead to a richer financial life? (pun intended.)
Let’s look at five ways participating in a regular fitness plan can help you make more money, with one caveat.
None of these benefits I share with you will have anything to do with the positive bias healthy men and woman experience. In psychology it’s called the halo effect.
When people assign an individual one positive trait (being fit and/or attractive, for example), they tend to assume other positive traits about them too. Traits like: hard working, smart, ambitious, etc.
Traits that might get you ahead in the workplace for no other reason than someone else’s positive bias toward the individual.
That is not what we’re talking about today, although it will always be present at some level.
Here are five ways fitness can make you more money:
1. Develops a Rich Identity.
The unique thing about being in shape–no amount of money can buy your way there.
You can throw money at coaches, supplements, meal plans, or even personal chefs, sure. As simple as those luxuries would make the process, one is still tasked with putting in the effort and doing the work.
This culminates in a sense of identity rooted in hard work, sacrifice, and higher levels of self-efficacy.
These same traits have a correlation to more financial success. By actively pursuing better fitness, one can develop the skills necessary for better finance.
2. Promotes Long-Term Thinking
For many, the most frustrating thing about fitness is that results take time. The reward for your hard work is not felt immediately, but often months down the road.
This can help cultivate the mindset of long-term payoffs instead of short-term gains.
Many of history’s most lucrative investment strategies require this type of long-term thinking.
Many people fail to achieve financial success because they waste time and resources on get-rich quick schemes, or simply don’t have the patience and foresight to do what is necessary to achieve the desired results.
Actively working toward fitness goals that won’t be achieved until some ambiguous point in the future is great practice for developing patience and faith in the process.
3. Impulse Control
Sticking to a healthy diet and exercise routine involves a certain level of impulse control.
> When it’s early and cold outside, the impulsive decision is to skip the gym and stay curled up in bed.
> When you’re craving junk food, the impulsive decision is ordering delivery instead of cooking your own meal.
Individuals who can maintain a healthy routine practice impulse control by not giving into these temptations. This discipline can carry over into finances as well.
Impulsively buying the newest clothing drop from your favorite retailer, or upgrading to the newest device the moment it’s released—these are all impulsive purchases that can ruin financial health.
4. More Confidence and Resiliency In The Face of Work Challenges
Some research has shown that regular exercise develops the ability in men and women to be more resilient in the face of challenging situations.1
This could be applied in the workplace, with the ability to handle difficult work projects, manage emotions, and produce valuable contributions.
Additionally, the confidence that comes with being regularly active can also lead to taking on more challenging work tasks in general. In turn, this puts the individual in new situations where their skills continue to grow.
Combined, the results are an employee who produces results above and beyond their peers.
5. The Confidence To Find Something Better
Are you already a star employee without any of the appreciation and recognition?
In that case, being regularly active can also give you the confidence to look elsewhere for a work environment that is better managed and pays more.
Don’t underestimate the power in having top-tier skills and the confidence to know they’re valuable.
Fitness Is The Keystone
Fitness is viewed as a “keystone” habit, meaning the benefits you receive in this area extend to other areas of your life too.
Your financial status is no exception. Many of the insights and skills you develop from the practice of fitness will empower you to make more money and lead to a better life.
You can begin improving your health now no matter your financial state. Walking, tracking your eating, and many other health-promoting behaviors require no extra financial expense.
Get started improving your health today and experience the far-reaching benefits.
P.S. The easiest way to get started is by understanding how to master the fundamentals of nutrition. Click here to grab your copy of the Food Freedom Framework guide to learn the easiest way to manage your food.
Hyytinen, A., & Lahtonen, J. (2013). The effect of physical activity on long-term income. Social science & medicine, 96, 129-137.