I started working full-time for a real estate agency a couple of weeks ago. It’s a position I’m really enjoying, mainly because it’s the first company I’ve ever worked for where people actually want to be there. It isn’t just a job that people drag themselves out of bed for, it’s a career, and there is a real ongoing sense of progression and motivation. Which is wonderful.
Last week the sales team went up to the Gold Coast for a two day conference where they listened to industry professionals speak, and other notable speakers – such as Aron Ralston. They came back saying that there was a common theme that all of the speakers spoke of, not just once, but many times.
And that is the link between health and success. Feeling good about yourself, living a healthy lifestyle, and how that links to success in the workplace and your personal life.
Which really got me thinking… do I write better when I feel better? Am I more successful and productive when I know I’m healthy?
In general, I get up at 6.30am every morning and walk my dog. My diet consists of chocolate and Red Bull but hey, no one is perfect.
I just think it’s so interesting how many successful individuals talk about the importance of personal fitness and health.
What do you think? Is there a link? Are you happy with your diet and fitness? Would you feel more confident if you were fitter and healthier?
Interesting stuff. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Words Read & Written 
I had a serious illness a while back and one of the requirements for even a partial recovery was to make sure that I rebuilt myself through exercise.
When I don’t do the five km a day that I do for maintenance, I feel it. It’s not just my body that feels worse, but my brain is also far more sluggish without the physical movement.
I don’t know if it is that way for everyone, but my best writing definitely comes when I am mentally and physically healthy.
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I had a serious illness a while back and one of the requirements for even a partial recovery was to make sure that I rebuilt myself through exercise.
When I don’t do the five km a day that I do for maintenance, I feel it. It’s not just my body that feels worse, but my brain is also far more sluggish without the physical movement.
I don’t know if it is that way for everyone, but my best writing definitely comes when I am mentally and physically healthy.
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While I do think that being physically healthy aids in success (more energy, feel good play good, confidence, etc.), successful people speaking about being fit reminds me of one of the most important Economic principles we study: correlation does not imply causation. Basically just that just because a lot of people have A and B does not mean that either causes the other. It’s just as possible that C causes both of them. I think that both personal health and success in life are caused by many of the same things, among them ‘drive.’ A person driven to get up every day and work out instead of sit on the couch is probably just as driven to put time into their passions rather than watch TV. People more likely to succeed at one thing are often more likely to succeed at others, just because they have a willingness to put in the time and effort to better themselves. The people that get up at 5 in the morning to run before work are the people that go to work right after their run and stay in the office late.
But yes, I agree – personal health is important! I always feel more confident and satisfied if I’m in a healthy lifestyle, which leads to me being more active in other areas of my life, like writing.
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While I do think that being physically healthy aids in success (more energy, feel good play good, confidence, etc.), successful people speaking about being fit reminds me of one of the most important Economic principles we study: correlation does not imply causation. Basically just that just because a lot of people have A and B does not mean that either causes the other. It’s just as possible that C causes both of them. I think that both personal health and success in life are caused by many of the same things, among them ‘drive.’ A person driven to get up every day and work out instead of sit on the couch is probably just as driven to put time into their passions rather than watch TV. People more likely to succeed at one thing are often more likely to succeed at others, just because they have a willingness to put in the time and effort to better themselves. The people that get up at 5 in the morning to run before work are the people that go to work right after their run and stay in the office late.
But yes, I agree – personal health is important! I always feel more confident and satisfied if I’m in a healthy lifestyle, which leads to me being more active in other areas of my life, like writing.
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Physical health is one thing but mental health is another. And I think that having the energy to function can be a factor. I have read of self made millionaires or billionaires speak of the long hours they have put in to achieve success.
Mental health certainly affects your capacity for success There are people who achieve success in spite of their mental illness there are those who can’t. Look at the homeless people and most of them are not healthy and fit.
My career went backwards rather than forward as a result of my undiagnosed BiPolar. I lacked the insight to even know that anything was wrong.
But what about people who are physically fit but have mental health issues?
There are stories who speak of BiPolar who achieve great success and would not want to lose the edge that the mania from mental illness gives them. I think of Stephen Fry who stated in his documentary “The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive” where he states he would not wan to live without the BiPolar.
I think that generally good physical fitness can have positive effects on all aspects of life.
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Physical health is one thing but mental health is another. And I think that having the energy to function can be a factor. I have read of self made millionaires or billionaires speak of the long hours they have put in to achieve success.
Mental health certainly affects your capacity for success There are people who achieve success in spite of their mental illness there are those who can’t. Look at the homeless people and most of them are not healthy and fit.
My career went backwards rather than forward as a result of my undiagnosed BiPolar. I lacked the insight to even know that anything was wrong.
But what about people who are physically fit but have mental health issues?
There are stories who speak of BiPolar who achieve great success and would not want to lose the edge that the mania from mental illness gives them. I think of Stephen Fry who stated in his documentary “The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive” where he states he would not wan to live without the BiPolar.
I think that generally good physical fitness can have positive effects on all aspects of life.
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This makes me think of a great Vince Lombardi quote, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” I like this because it is all about commitment to excellence not whether or not you are healthy. If you commit to excellence in one area of your life, it’s probable that you’ll find ways of doing this in other areas as well. Thanks for the great question!
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This makes me think of a great Vince Lombardi quote, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” I like this because it is all about commitment to excellence not whether or not you are healthy. If you commit to excellence in one area of your life, it’s probable that you’ll find ways of doing this in other areas as well. Thanks for the great question!
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While no direct correlation can be proven since making up and performing a study on such a thing would be rather difficult, I do believe that there is a definite connection. Essentially, at least in my opinion, the people that care enough to eat well, work out, and take care of themselves as far as they are physically and mentally able to, tend to also have an interest in bettering other aspects of their lives. They apply the same drive, enthusiasm, and discipline to other pursuits and tend to find success because of it.
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While no direct correlation can be proven since making up and performing a study on such a thing would be rather difficult, I do believe that there is a definite connection. Essentially, at least in my opinion, the people that care enough to eat well, work out, and take care of themselves as far as they are physically and mentally able to, tend to also have an interest in bettering other aspects of their lives. They apply the same drive, enthusiasm, and discipline to other pursuits and tend to find success because of it.
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I just know that when I’m doing something that I enjoy, I feel a lot better than when I’m not. I have been having health problems lately, but I am starting to get better. I know that when I finally get back to my everyday job, I’ll probably get sick of it quick, and I would much rather be writing. I know, however that this won’t pay the bills. In the meantime, I’ll just have to keep at it and hope for that best selling novel someday.
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I just know that when I’m doing something that I enjoy, I feel a lot better than when I’m not. I have been having health problems lately, but I am starting to get better. I know that when I finally get back to my everyday job, I’ll probably get sick of it quick, and I would much rather be writing. I know, however that this won’t pay the bills. In the meantime, I’ll just have to keep at it and hope for that best selling novel someday.
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Writing is a muscle, like the muscles in our body. Just like we have to work out physically, we have to work out creatively.
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Writing is a muscle, like the muscles in our body. Just like we have to work out physically, we have to work out creatively.
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I can believe there is a connection. Peace of mind and body resonates throughout your entire life.
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I can believe there is a connection. Peace of mind and body resonates throughout your entire life.
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I think the two go hand and hand. They feed off each other. I find, through visual observation alone, that a vast majority of people who seriously workout value their lives more… That sounds strange. They have passions, hobbies or a lifestyle that they don’t want to end and/or they want to enjoy for as long as possible— healthy body generally entails longevity and a particular level of consistency and reliability. All elements people generally want to achieve and maintain, but lack the sticktoitiveness to persist and sacrifice to surpass their plateaus or margin of complacency.
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I think the two go hand and hand. They feed off each other. I find, through visual observation alone, that a vast majority of people who seriously workout value their lives more… That sounds strange. They have passions, hobbies or a lifestyle that they don’t want to end and/or they want to enjoy for as long as possible— healthy body generally entails longevity and a particular level of consistency and reliability. All elements people generally want to achieve and maintain, but lack the sticktoitiveness to persist and sacrifice to surpass their plateaus or margin of complacency.
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I think there is a link between personal health and being happy and successful. I believe you have to be healthy mentally and physically to have stamina which can be a factor in success, so fitness and diet may have a role. When you feel good about yourself it reflects in how you see the world and how the world sees you. I think play and time for creativity are as important as going to the gym and watching what you eat! Playfulness and creativity may provide the inspiration for success 🙂
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I think there is a link between personal health and being happy and successful. I believe you have to be healthy mentally and physically to have stamina which can be a factor in success, so fitness and diet may have a role. When you feel good about yourself it reflects in how you see the world and how the world sees you. I think play and time for creativity are as important as going to the gym and watching what you eat! Playfulness and creativity may provide the inspiration for success 🙂
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I think personal health IS success.
I think we have the wrong idea about success because it gets warped by famous people like Steve Jobs. I think having a long healthy life is the true success. My mom, who lived to be 98.5 and had a sharp mind right to the end, was more successful than Mr Jobs.
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I think personal health IS success.
I think we have the wrong idea about success because it gets warped by famous people like Steve Jobs. I think having a long healthy life is the true success. My mom, who lived to be 98.5 and had a sharp mind right to the end, was more successful than Mr Jobs.
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Yes, yes, yes. It’s hard to write when you are sick. I know that. I walk my dog every morning, too. I’m a little bummed that I am going to be working full time this summer and will start at 6:30 in the morning every day and I don’t know if I can get up early enough to walk the dog before work, but maybe after…Oh well, adjustments are also part of life. Anyway, I think being healthy makes you feel more confident and that leads to success.
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Yes, yes, yes. It’s hard to write when you are sick. I know that. I walk my dog every morning, too. I’m a little bummed that I am going to be working full time this summer and will start at 6:30 in the morning every day and I don’t know if I can get up early enough to walk the dog before work, but maybe after…Oh well, adjustments are also part of life. Anyway, I think being healthy makes you feel more confident and that leads to success.
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They do relate to each other for me, and for my clients. I know that when I’m feeling successful, I have a lot more energy. I’m more creative and enthusiastic. Everything flows better.
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They do relate to each other for me, and for my clients. I know that when I’m feeling successful, I have a lot more energy. I’m more creative and enthusiastic. Everything flows better.
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For sure! I think sometimes good writing can happen when you are sick, only because if delirious or tired you can put yourself in the place of a character who is suffering, but the best work overall definitely benefits from health. I always focus better on any work with exercise
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For sure! I think sometimes good writing can happen when you are sick, only because if delirious or tired you can put yourself in the place of a character who is suffering, but the best work overall definitely benefits from health. I always focus better on any work with exercise
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I think health is the best kind of success. People work better when they’re healthier and happier, especially when they exercise 🙂 . Companies can and do grind more out of people in the short term, but it’s a level of work that can’t be maintained.
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I think health is the best kind of success. People work better when they’re healthier and happier, especially when they exercise 🙂 . Companies can and do grind more out of people in the short term, but it’s a level of work that can’t be maintained.
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Mens sana in corpore sano, correct? I think there is a correlation. Being physically healthy HELPS (keyword) the mind. But so does the opposite. A healthy mind HELPS the body. It’s almost impossible to get off the chair and exercise when we are depressed. It’s an ouroboros, therefore mind/body balance is key. I am not talking of “balance” in a restrictive way, or in a philosophical manner. What I am saying is that the person has to make a conscious decision to help both body and mind, thus plan accordingly.
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Mens sana in corpore sano, correct? I think there is a correlation. Being physically healthy HELPS (keyword) the mind. But so does the opposite. A healthy mind HELPS the body. It’s almost impossible to get off the chair and exercise when we are depressed. It’s an ouroboros, therefore mind/body balance is key. I am not talking of “balance” in a restrictive way, or in a philosophical manner. What I am saying is that the person has to make a conscious decision to help both body and mind, thus plan accordingly.
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Since I started working in an office where my superiors were neither hostile nor narcissistic, but instead encouraging and companionable, my quality of life and artistic output have both increased dramatically. So, yes, I agree with you.
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Since I started working in an office where my superiors were neither hostile nor narcissistic, but instead encouraging and companionable, my quality of life and artistic output have both increased dramatically. So, yes, I agree with you.
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Sure, a healthy lifestyle can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves! In turn, we’re naturally going to be more positive about the work we’re doing and taking pride in that.:)
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Sure, a healthy lifestyle can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves! In turn, we’re naturally going to be more positive about the work we’re doing and taking pride in that.:)
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I learned the hard way that maintaining a good work/life balance is integral to both our mental and physical health. Stress can have a very debilitating effect on our bodies and mind.
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