The advantages of leading a healthier lifestyle might seem apparent. You might feel better physically, look better, and not have to visit the doctor as often. But there are other advantages that you might overlook at first glance. Eating well, getting enough exercise, and sleeping enough hours has many benefits.
Cheaper Life Insurance Premiums
If you have pre-existing medical conditions, it can be hard to obtain life insurance. Many good life insurance providers ask about your health when signing up. If you aren’t overweight and avoid smoking, you might get lower rates. This has been the case in the industry for a long time, but companies today are more inclined to use hard data, like information from customers that use fitness trackers. Some people don’t want to share this information with any company, but if you believe the rewards outweigh the risks, it might be a good option. If you already have life insurance or you have more than you need, you might no longer need your policies. That’s especially true if you have more insurance than beneficiaries that need the death benefit. No matter what your reasons, selling a life insurance policy for cash is easy, and you can estimate the value from Mason Finance in just seconds.
Better Intellectual Health
You may know that eating well and getting enough sleep can benefit your emotions and body, but you may not have realized that it can improve your intelligence levels too. As you get older, physical activity becomes more important in maintaining your intelligence. The right foods are important for people of all ages. For example, the fatty acids in salmon and other oily fishes can help your brain repair itself. And if you don’t get enough sleep, your judgment and reaction time may be impaired, similarly to the way alcohol can affect your brain.
Better Mental Health
Having a better lifestyle isn’t just good for your body. It can also benefit your emotions. Making the right choices is often an important method of helping mental health problems. Exercise can make you feel happier. Taking care of yourself and getting enough rest can boost your spirits while keeping your mood stable.
Long-Term Care Insurance
If you have a healthy life, you might not be as likely to need other kinds of insurance, like long-term care insurance. This is used near the end of someone’s life when they might need more care, such as moving to an assisted living or nursing home. But if you do want long-term care insurance, the time to get it is when you still have good health. If you exercise and eat right, it’s less likely that you’ll have chronic conditions that cause higher insurance prices.
Reducing Expensive Habits
When you think of expensive habits, the first thing that might come to mind is smoking. Let’s consider how quitting the habit can improve your bank account. If you’re a 10-per-day smoker, you might save over $1,800 a year. Plus, your family and friends will be happy that you’re considering their health since they won’t have to be around a smoker anymore.
But smoking isn’t the only expensive habit you can eliminate. Drinking soda every day isn’t great for you, and you might be spending a couple of hundred dollars each year if you drink them often. The added sugar in these drinks might lead to diabetes as well, so by potentially preventing the condition, you can save on costly treatments.
Cutting Down on Transportation
Parking, car maintenance, gas, and public transportation are daily expenses that you can drastically reduce by changing your lifestyle. For example, if you live close to work, you might decide to bike or walk instead of taking the bus twice a day. That could save you a few hundred dollars each year. Consider walking with your children to school instead of putting them in the car. That improves your health, saves money, and allows you to spend more time with family.
Lower Medical Costs
Many people think of health only as being a way of improving their appearance. It’s true that many people consider looking fit and slim the ideal of beauty. However, losing weight and exercising is about more than looking good. It might reduce headaches, boost your immune system, and allow you to sleep better. In turn, this might help you save money on over the counter medications. If you lose weight, you may not place as much pressure on your joints, and you can potentially reduce high cholesterol or blood pressure. You might not have to spend as much on prescriptions either.
Cut Down on Food Bills
If you eat a lot of processed, pre-packaged foods, you might be spending more than you need to. Switching to homemade alternatives can impact your spending a lot. For example, one pre-packaged soup might last you a couple of days. But for that price, you may be able to purchase the ingredients to make a homemade equivalent to last a week or longer. You could divide it up into single servings and place them in the freezer for an easy meal. If you go out to eat or order takeout food, you’ll also save by either cutting down or giving it up. That meal might cost two to five times what a homemade meal does. Plus, restaurant food is often high in calories. Switching to homemade equivalents can improve the way your body processes food. During the cooking time, your body can prepare to take in foods, allowing you to digest them better. You might be more satisfied after a homemade meal, which can improve your quality of life.
Reducing Expensive Activities
It can be fun to take your family to the movie theater, but the cost of tickets and potentially unhealthy snacks can add up. Instead, outdoor activities can improve your mood while helping you stay healthier. Instead of going to the theater and sitting for a few hours, consider going to the park and walking around or just tossing a football back and forth.
