Payday! Most of us know when paycheck coming into our household arrives each month, whether it’s every 2 weeks once a month, or 1/15th. My first corporate job was selling insurance and investment services. I was 21 at the time and I remember my boss telling me, “Miles, you need to teach your your clients to pay themselves first.” This resonated with me because it helped me realize that building good financial habits would do nothing but benefit the future me. In the fitness world, planning for your future self is just as important.

We all know that money is great and we need it to survive, but what about your body? What about your mind? What about your mental health? When’s the last time you thought about paying yourself?

Working hard to advance your career at your job/business and even working to advance your family at home (hats off to all you full-time parents!) is great, but YOU still need to advance. YOU still need to be paid. You are ultimately no good to anyone if you can’t take care of yourself first.

There are so many ways exercise can be considered as an investment in your own body. Here are just a few examples of the ‘paycheck’ you can receive each week via exercise:

Build a buffer against sickness and disease

Improve your joint health

Increase your metabolism (hello holiday eating! ?)

Boosting energy for better performance at work

Fight against seasonal depression

Reduce anxiety

Save cash (no more need for 2 different sizes of clothes)

Can’t afford a gym? Try setting a timer on your phone and walking 10 minutes out away from your home, and 10 minutes back. Try doing it 3 times a week and notice what it does to your mood. Also research home Yoga routines on YouTube. Find an accountability buddy to check in with you each week. Something is better than nothing.

Apprehensive about coming into a physical gym? No problem! Many gyms like CFSC offer remote personal training and programming so you can keep going at home.

The world is better with you in it, so I ask you to do your part to stick around as long as possible. Pay yourself first.