Why Health Is Your Wealth (from a former accountant and now a health coach)

I am a martial arts and nutrition coach, with a former profession as an accountant. Last year I took a leap of faith transition my career and pursuing my passion helping people live a healthy lifestyle. Even though being an accountant wasn't my true destiny, the past experience has given me great insight in the correlation between health and wealth. Today I am sharing the 3 aspects why your health is your wealth.

Building wealth as an individual

Promoting individual high performance - it has shown that people who are active and living a healthy lifestyle are 25% more productive than the ones who are not. According to the book High Performance Habits, it has also indicated that people learn better when they are exercising regularly. As an advocate in martial arts, practicing martial arts can also improve ones memory and ability to learn.

Save medical bills in the long run - 85% of chronic diseases are preventable by changing lifestyles. People also are able to save a lot more money in medical bills in the long run when they are investing in their health now. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that a 10% weight loss could reduce an overweight person's lifetime medical costs by $2,200 to $5,300.

Altogether, an individual is living a happier and wealthier life when they are creative and active.

Investing in corporate wellbeing programme

ROI on Profit and Loss - According to Harvard Business Review, employers can get nearly $3 of return for every dollar they invested in workplace wellbeing programmes. It was the study of the company Johnson & Johnson between 2002 to 2008, the return on investment was $2.71 per dollar invested in its wellness programme for the workplace. Given that businesses do watch their wallet when it comes to investing in corporate wellness programme, it does provide return on the bottom line for businesses.

'The balance sheet thinking' - 'The balance sheet thinking' was introduced by the book 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley. Making a profit is essential for the survival of every business, but long-term success is the result of implementing robust structures and processes to protect your most valuable assets.

If you evaluate the intelligence, energy and creativity of your people altogether (including yourself, or it will be you if you are one man band business), what will that be like on the balance sheet? It is intangible but people are important assets for the businesses. Looking after people's wellbeing, physically, emotionally and financially, can help protect the people assets in the business.

Healthcare System

Healthier healthcare system - In the UK, it costs the NHS ￡11bn a year to treat diseases that are caused by poor lifestyle choices (according to BBC). In the meantime, I had been hearing time and time again, our healthcare professionals facing 'pay cut', overwork, high stress, and some have relocated to other countries because they felt undervalued for the work they do in NHS.

Making healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce the stress of our healthcare systems, there will be fewer disease care cases and leave more space focus on prevention and maintenance of human wellbeing.

Overall, a good health is the foundation of living a full, happy and fulfilled life. Individuals become more productive, happier and save money in the long run. Companies are able to create happy environment for people express their creativity and talents that can add value. Also in the bigger picture, it provides a healthier healthcare system.