Health Is More Important Than Wealth – 3 Surprising Reasons Why

The FIRE (financial independence / retire early) community is criticized for a lot of things, but one thing I think they get right overall is trying to define the concept of “enough”. While society is constantly trying to keep up with the proverbial Joneses, learning to be content with what you have can lead to more happiness than earning more money.

And if you’re participating in the consumeristic rat race, there’s always a new bar to measure up to. Unless you’re a Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, there is always another class of people just out of reach that can afford a lifestyle that you cannot – whether you make $30,000 a year or $1,000,000 a year.

Focusing on all the different aspects of health (physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual) has been shown to be much more beneficial to your happiness over the long run than a number in your bank account.

3. Money Can’t Buy Health

While being in good health gives you the time, energy, and drive to make extra money, with few exceptions it doesn’t work the other way around. You can’t neglect your health over a 40 year career and then expect to get it back by throwing money at it.

But strangely enough, that is what we (at least in Western society) seem to try to do. Instead of turning to holistic health practices such as diet, exercise, meditation, or just a night out with friends, in the U.S. there’s a prescription drug for anything that ails you.

According to recent research from Harvard, the U.S. spends $9,400 per capita on healthcare, compared to $5,400 in other high-income countries. That is a large percentage of the average American budget. Despite the increased spending, our health is certainly no better, and in most cases worse. Life expectancy in the U.S. is 3 years shorter than other high-income countries, and we have much higher rates of preventative diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

In fact, the unrelenting pursuit of wealth, or just trying to keep up with our peers, is a constant source of stress and busyness in our lives. For all the promises that are made to us about how perfect life will be once we finally attain that next level of financial security, we are killing ourselves to get there. And it’s often only if and when we do reach the peak that we desperately realize we would gladly trade our wealth for the holistic health we’d been ignoring for so long.

How to Prioritize Your Health

The good news is it’s never too late to come to the realization that health is more important than wealth.

And in case it wasn’t clear above, being a healthy person is about more than just physical health. For my own health challenges, I have been diligent in pursuing all kinds of treatments, whether medical, nutrition, holistic medicine, etc.

While it has definitely helped me manage and I’m better off than I would be without it, I recognize that health – especially physical health – is not always in your control. By focusing on other aspects of health, you can find still find happiness and joy in life, even without perfect physical health. (But don’t see that as letting you off the hook to work hard toward maintaining your physical health to the best of your ability!)

Here are a few actionable tips to help you prioritize your health:

• Incorporate exercise into your daily routine – You don’t have to spend 2 hours at the gym every day. Just changing your routine to include an active lifestyle (walking more instead of driving, or mowing your yard instead of hiring it out) can help.
• Spend more time eating and preparing food – In the busyness of life, the prevalence of fast food and sugar-laden snacks has risen to all-time highs. Slow down, and carve out time to prepare and eat healthy food. You can still eat healthy while saving money on groceries.
• Schedule dates with family and friends – That means no work, and no cell phone. Forming meaningful connections with people is a huge part of your mental and emotional health.
• Make time for reading – Instead of turning on the TV at night, pick up a book. Whether just for fun or personal development, learning new things is a part of your journey toward holistic health.
• Nurture your spirituality – This may look different for everyone. I am a Christian, and those beliefs inform the very core of what I believe about myself, the world, and even how I spend my money. It provides a sense of hope, community, and a purpose greater than myself. Even for those that would say they are not religious, having meaning and purpose has been proven to contribute to your overall sense of well-being.

Health Is More Important Than Wealth – In Summary

Modern society has conditioned us to chase wealth – whether that be in the form of money, possessions, or status. In the process, most of us neglect the most important asset we have – our health.

More than just being physically fit, health incorporates almost every aspect of our lives – mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual. Each plays a role in our overall sense of well-being, happiness, and purpose in life.

While money is also an important part of life, and necessary to meet many of our daily needs, money is not the most important thing. Too much focus on it can be detrimental to our health. And as the saying goes, nobody on their deathbed every wished they had worked more hours or accumulated more money. NOW is the time to find a balance in your life and spend time on what really matters to you.