How to overcome health concerns without breaking your back

As you age, health concerns become more prevalent, so it's important to prioritize self-care. Financial, professional, and personal considerations all play a role in why health should be a priority. Get a physical health check, hire a personal trainer, and invest in body composition scales and home tests. Seek financial advice for funding potential health problems and appoint a locum for your business. Focus on diet, hydration, rest, exercise, and mental health. Invest time and money in your health, as it's essential for self-employed individuals. Hello, Jeremy Deeds here and welcome to the Insight Post for the 12th of May 2024. How to overcome health concerns without breaking your back. As you age, health concerns become more prevalent. You may already be worried about chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, mental health, including cognitive decline and dementia, and general physical deterioration, especially if these conditions are present in your family. In this first Insight Post of a series focusing on the concerns of older independent consultants, you'll be nudged into reflecting on why health concerns and self-care should be a priority. Financial considerations, access to quality health care and managing the cost of medical treatment can be a significant worry, especially if, as a freelancer, you do not have access to employer or government health schemes. Professional considerations. Your clients and your business will suffer if you cannot work because of illness or disability. Should the worst happen, do you have a plan for taking care of your clients? Personal considerations. You might think you will live forever, but you won't. What remains unfinished on your bucket list that you will regret not doing? And if you do get ill, who is going to look after you and pay for your care? Don't just sit there, do something. There is plenty of external help you can plug into. One, now is probably a good time to get a full physical health check from a private health care provider, which should reveal any underlying conditions. Second, appointing a personal trainer or coach will help you stay as fit as you age and can guide you in managing chronic conditions, developing healthier habits and navigating health care systems. Third, instinct or gut feeling is no substitute for accurate data, so invest in a set of body composition scales and home blood and gut tests to find out your body's true state and measure your activities to track improvements in your fitness. Four, ask your financial advisor or your trade or professional body for help in forward funding any health problems that might knock you and your business sideways in the future. And lastly, but quite importantly, appoint a locum to take care of your business when you can't. But start with DIY health care. Take as much responsibility of your body and its health as your understanding will allow. There are five areas on which you should concentrate. One, diet. The key to a good diet is food quality rather than quantity. Health professionals recommend 50% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 20% protein. Two, hydration. You are 60% water, so even mild dehydration of 1-2% can cause headaches, loss of concentration, tiredness and reduced athletic performance. We naturally use 2-3 litres of water per day, so it is vital to replace this. Three, rest. Your body recovers during sleep and a good night's sleep is essential. Again, quality is more important than quantity. Get 6-7 hours of sound sleep to enhance your ability to deal with life on a day-to-day basis. Four, exercise. Humans are built to move, so inactivity can be fatal, hence the 10,000 steps advice. In contrast, strength training turns fat into muscles and leaves you feeling healthier. You don't have to go to the gym. Simply get into the habit of around 20 minutes of strength training, push-ups, sit-ups, the plank, etc., three or four times a week. Five, mental health. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. I do not profess to be qualified in any way to talk about mental health and its impact on resilience. However, I do know that a walk, preferably in natural surroundings, can do wonders to dispel feelings of anxiety and sadness. Don't forget time and money. You should invest a little time and money in your health. Most of the above can be done for free and should take no more than 20-30 minutes a day. Although preparing meals from scratch takes a bit more time, it is probably cheaper and healthier than ready meals. Health concerns will always be a worry for the self-employed, more so than for employees who have financial and personal backup. Therefore, your self-care should be as important as your family life and your business growth.