Will You Have Enough to Retire?

If you one day have enough money to retire, will you also have enough wellness to enjoy your retirement?

Imagine having that much money. Maybe it’s $1 million. Maybe it’s $2 million. Maybe it’s $5 million.

Imagine not having to work. Imagine all of the things you could do with your time.

Now, imagine having type-2 diabetes. Imagine having dementia. Imagine having a bad back. Imagine spending most of your time alone.

Imagine nonstop trips to various medical offices. Imagine constantly worrying about your well-being. Imagine not being able to do what you want to do.

What good is having a nest egg and not being able to enjoy it?

The thorough way to ask the question, “Will you have enough to retire?” is:

1. Will you have enough money to retire?
2. Will you have enough wellness to enjoy your retirement?

Will you have plenty of energy?

Will you have plenty of strength?

Will you have plenty of stamina?

Will your mind be sharp?

Will your blood-sugar levels, blood pressure, and blood-cholesterol levels be sound?

Will you have several fulfilling relationships?

Will you be able to do what you want to do?

When asked what surprised him most about humanity, Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama, said:

“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.”

That’s messed up, right?

The better way forward is clear:

1. Make regular deposits to your retirement fund.
2. Make regular deposits to your wellness fund.

“A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession.”
—Hippocrates of Kos

About Jason Gootman
Jason Gootman is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach as well as a certified nutritionist and certified exercise physiologist. Jason helps people reverse and prevent type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments with evidence-based approaches to nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, holistic wellness, and, most importantly, lasting behavior improvement and positive habit formation. As part of this work, Jason often helps people lose weight and keep it off, in part by helping them overcome the common challenges of yo-yo dieting and emotional eating. Jason helps people go from knowing what to do and having good intentions to consistently taking great care of themselves in ways that help them add years to their lives and life to their years.