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WHY HEALTH IS WEALTH

An upstream habit

James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, calls exercise one of his “upstream habits.”

Moving gets his creativity going. Sweating clears his mind. After exercise, he tends to be more efficient and productive the rest of the day. Hence, “upstream habits” – exercise is an upstream habit because it improves other areas of life, including work, family time, health, and leisure. For Clear, the day tends to flow better after movement.

Said Nelson Mandela: “Exercise is the key not only to physical health but to peace of mind.”

Health is virtually all we truly have

Investors and business owners recognize the importance of maintaining good health and fitness. Jeff Bezos, Mark Cuban, and Richard Branson are known for their daily exercise routines.

There’s no guarantee that regular exercise will make you wealthier or a more successful investor. But there’s evidence that a healthy, active lifestyle can improve your mental and physical well-being, which can, in turn, contribute to better outcomes in other areas.

“I have always believed that investing in your health is one of the best investments you can make,” Branson has said. “It is a long-term strategy that pays off in many ways.”

Over 2,000 years ago, Roman poet Virgil coined the phrase: “The greatest wealth is health.”

Benefits

Exercise increases oxygen flow to the brain, which can improve cognitive function. Whether walking, jogging, lifting weights, doing yoga, swimming, or playing a sport like basketball or tennis, exercise has also been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Per the Harvard Business Review, regular exercise has been linked to:

• Improved concentration
• Sharper memory
• Faster learning
• Prolonged mental stamina
• Enhanced creativity
• Lower stress

There’s also growing evidence that exercise outdoors, particularly in nature, adds even more health benefit.

Amid the current mental health crisis in America, millions of people have cited exercise as a way to mitigate stress, anxiety, and depression. The endorphins from sweating leave many feeling better than they otherwise would. It’s human nature to move throughout the day, just as we did for thousands of years as hunters and gatherers.

In 2014, Bill Gates said: “I exercise regularly, because it’s important to stay fit and healthy.”

Gates has also expressed concern about the passive nature of many modern jobs and the negative impact of a lack of exercise on health and productivity. In a 2011 interview with The New York Times, he said:

“I think the notion that sitting is the new smoking is a very interesting idea. We have jobs where you sit at a desk all day and stay in front of a computer. It’s important to make sure you’re getting exercise, and to try to break up the sedentary nature of those jobs.”

Dalio’s health secret

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio says he’s not the same person without meditation or some time to himself in silence. And he needs to do a little exercise.

“For me, meditating and exercising are essential to well-being. They’re like brushing my teeth. I do them almost every day.”

He added: “The more you understand your own body and mind, the more you can improve your own decision making…I like to walk and think. It’s a great way to get exercise, clear your mind, and come up with new ideas… Sitting is the new smoking. We need to get up and move around more.”

Many of us are more distracted than ever before. But we also have more technology to track fitness at our fingertips, from world-class yoga and strength instructors on YouTube to apps like Peloton.

(A large health and fitness market has grown out of health fitness products, a market growing more than 5% per year in the U.S. partly because heightened awareness around health, America’s obesity epidemic, and the country’s mental health crisis.)

Some workers swear by standing desks, walking meetings, treadmill desks, and morning walks before work to clear their mind, think about problems to solve, and enhance creativity.

Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman says, “There is no showing up properly for yourself and the other people in your life,” unless you regularly sleep well and exercise.

The bottom line: Physical activity might be one of the best investments you make for yourself, your family, and your business or career.

Dive deeper

Check out Peter Attia’s #1 New York Times bestseller that just came out: “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity,” in which exercise is highlighted as a critical component of a healthy life.

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