Exercise Can Save You Money

I should add to this title that it can even make you money…how you say?

One of the biggest costs in most people’s budget isn’t always that obvious. It’s not until you go to a doctor or end up with a huge bill because of some illness that could have been avoided, that you realize how much we pay for healthcare.

I’m not saying that if you exercise you won’t ever get sick, get an illness or even never pay a visit to an emergency room because other factors like genetics and accidents come into play too. However, you’ll be in better shape should something bad happen.

I know most people don’t like to think of exercising every day and sometimes the hardest part is getting started. Start out slow with say 15 minutes a day and build upon that. After a month or two you won’t remember a time it wasn’t part of your daily routine.

And exercise doesn’t have to cost a lot. Over my lifetime, I’ve belonged to two health clubs but dropped the membership when I decided the only way it was worthwhile was if I used the facilities every day. I didn’t have the time or the motivation to drive there every day so it was an easy decision to cancel.

Here are a few alternatives.

Walking-It’s free and you also get out in the fresh air. If like me, you live in a cold climate, in the winter think about buying a treadmill or bike…you can even find secondhand ones because people lose their motivation. Even walk to the store or if it’s close enough, work. Even some malls have walking times set aside just for walker. You might meet other people who can act as mentors and motivate you to stick with your plan.

Same goes for biking to the store or work, plus you save on gas too.

Check out exercise routines on sites like YouTube. I’ve found it’s the perfect way to pick what type of exercises I like to do and which trainer’s style of teaching I like best. Once you find the perfect match, you can even pick up some of their DVD’s. In fact, one of the keys to sticking with an exercise program is finding something you enjoy and someone who motivates you.

And how can exercise help you make money? I’ve found if I start my day with 30 minutes of exercising I’m more productive with work. Plus, I think it makes you think more clearly and make better decisions, and for me as a fiction writer, it actually helps me come up with ideas for stories.

So, if you make a New Year’s resolution to exercise this year and even if you didn’t, what are you waiting for?