A study recently was commissioned by Northwestern Mutual highlights a few facts that are worth noting. It found that women who think before hard about investing and managing their finances are more likely to say that they are happy and in great health. Duh…it makes sense! Think about it, the same discipline that is required to make and save money would be related to health and certainly to health habits. Both health and wealth (relatively) require you to assess where you are, where you want to be and to identify your plan to get there. The study listed seven steps that you can take to get in control of your finances, and that can also improve your overall health and psychological well-being. The steps are:

Work with a financial professional, consider it a “trainer”

1. Create a plan
2. Have both short-term and long-term goals
3. Work step by step towards your goals
4. Avoid sabotage by taking steps to protect from your family from financial ruin
5. Be mindful of your credit by paying off credit cards monthly
6. Don’t overspend.

The seven steps can be found at www.sevenfinancialhabits.com along with a healthy habits quiz, which is a great starting point. With our health budget approaching almost three trillion dollars and most Americans paying more for treatment and still dissatisfied with their current health care options, the study drives the connection of health and wealth home.
Your health is a commodity; being happy and healthful has tremendous value. Simply put, to work and earn money we need to be in good health. I invite you to share any experiences you may have about health and money management; we can all learn from what each other has to say!