IRAH
You’ve heard of an IRA, but have you heard of an IRAH? An IRAH is your Individual Retirement Account for Health. Think about it: all the money and prudent planning in the world can’t help someone who has not invested in his health. As you grow older and navigate your Prime-Time, there is no better way to ensure you can enjoy the years ahead than by taking care of yourself.
Remember this: Life span is different than Health Span. Your goal should not be to just live a long time and accept the “consequences” of age. Many people these days would rather accept the fact that they feel sick and tired all the time as “getting old.” So, as you prepare to develop and “contribute” regularly to your IRAH, I want you envision your ideal Prime-Time. What does that look like for you? Does it include less sickness and pain? Does it involve continuing to do your favorite things? Does it include travel and exploration? Spending time with family and loved ones? Staying active in your community? Volunteering? Keep these goals and desires top of mind as you begin to work on your IRAH and concentrate on your Health Span.
Life Span VS Health Span
The time between the day we are born and the day we die is our life span; the span of our lives, but our health span is so much more. It is the time we really live. It is the time when we are healthy and active in all areas of our lives; emotionally, spiritually, physically, socially, intellectually....The goal is to have our health span match our life span as closely as possible.
How do we do this? While genetics plays a part, through things like proper nutrition, exercise and activity, a good social group, stress relieving activities such as yoga or meditation, and deep breathing, we can actually re-write our genetic markers , to a certain degree. This means we have a lot of control over our health span.
Quick Tips
As you prepare to work on your IRAH, start by visualizing your best life. Take some time to think about what you really want your Prime-Time (40's and up) to be like and use those mental pictures as your motivators. Also, think about what you don’t want to become. Are there family members or friends who have not planned their IRAH? People who lived full, productive, active lives to the end? Remember what their lives look like too.
Be happy! Finding joy in life and learning to let things go is a great tool to a long health span.
If need help planning out your IRAH let's get together.
Recommended Reading - The Blue Zones, this book is give many great examples of people whose health spans have matched their life spans. Bestselling author, longevity expert, and National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner reports on health, fitness, diet, and aging, drawing on his research from extraordinarily long-lived communities--Blue Zones--around the globe.
The Telomere Effect - by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel - The revolutionary book coauthored by the Nobel Prize winner who discovered telomerase and telomeres' role in the aging process and the health psychologist who has done original research into how specific lifestyle and psychological habits can protect telomeres, slowing disease and improving life.
Lisa received her Health Coach Certification from the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, founded by world-renowned physician and author, Dr. William Sears. The Institute is a leader in science-based health and wellness education that focuses on the four pillars of health; Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude and Nutrition (L.E.A.N.). A certification by the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute is obtained only after completing the extensive course work and meeting all requirements. Once certified, a Health Coach possesses the knowledge, tools and resources to make a positive difference in the health of others.
Van, an Environmental Geologist and Lisa, a Certified health Coach live in Greensboro, NC and are Independent Shaklee Distributors. They enjoy hiking, spending time outdoors, and making greeting cards together
This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or mitigate symptoms, it is strictly educational. I am not paid nor did I receive free products from the books I recommended, I found them to be very good books.