Your only real wealth is health.

You can have a portfolio of investment properties, an overstuffed bank account and a house full of expensive toys, but if you don’t have good health, you’re not well off.

We all know this on some level – but how seriously do we take it?

I certainly didn’t for decades, working long hours and taking very little exercise, but in learning how to define and achieve my personal goals, I’ve become increasingly aware of the importance of health. And I’m not alone in this. My mentor, Dr Fred Grosse, is always asking about my wellbeing whenever we have one of our regular catch ups.

So what are the practical steps we can take to optimise health? Here are some things I’ve learned on my journey.

My first tip is to break the habit of being reactive. We tend to regard good health as a default setting and only pay attention when something goes wrong. A smarter approach is to have regular check ups with your trusted health professionals. One of my friends avoided seeing the dentist for years, only to end up in A&E, followed by a week in hospital, when an undiagnosed abscess led to blood poisoning.

Interestingly, some health insurers have seen the light. The new Healthy By Sovereign policy rewards you for having regular check ups and taking an online health assessment. Get in touch if you’d like to know more.

My second piece of advice is to find the exercise habit that works for you . If you know me well, you will know that I avoid the gym but I love music. With Spotify streaming great tunes it’s a joy to go running in the morning. Its a 10/10 start to my day.

Of late I have been using my wind trainer, out running, and walking, as I aim to hopefully get fitter ready for a 3 week adventure in Nepal and then on to base camp later this month.

You may move to the beat of a different drummer. Perhaps you love the group energy of a class, the pleasure of dancing, or the satisfaction of pushing beyond what you thought were your physical limits. I know someone who is turning his fascination with Japanese culture into a goal to walk the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail on the island of Shikoku. How awesome would that be? A goal like that would certainly get me moving. Just do whatever works for you.

The funny thing is that paying attention to your health often has a flow on effect to your wealth. You save on avoidable expenses – I have lost count of the loan top ups arranged for clients facing a huge dental surgery bill caused by long term neglect. You will also have reserves of energy and positivity to focus on your investment or career goals.

So what do you do to maintain good health? What are the tips and practices you’d recommend? I’d love to hear your stories.