I recently read an article by Nick Maggiulli called “Don’t Bet Against Biology“, where he addressed a very important theme: the priority of health in your life.

Especially in the first years of a career, it seems to be common practice to put one’s health on the back burner to favor faster professional growth and – consequently – that of one’s finances.

Highlighting this specific point, Nick writes, “they have more money than they ever needed and less health than they ever wanted”, describing those who, after spending over a decade solely on their careers, suffer the consequences of not taking their health seriously while they still could.

The expected returns paradox

It’s worth considering this interesting point: sacrificing personal health for career advancement provides no guarantee of greater professional or financial rewards.

Let’s imagine two scenarios:

1. A recent graduate starts their career path and pours all their physical and mental energy into improving the quality of their work, continuing to study or engaging in activities related to their professional development;
2. A recent graduate starts their career path but clearly sets priorities, making time to exercise, follow a balanced diet, and pursue some hobbies.

The second scenario is not the polar opposite of the first, but it involves a serious, uncompromising commitment to one’s body.

What should we expect after 5 years? Likely, in the majority of cases, the individual in scenario one will hold a competitive edge in the labor market.

What do we expect after 15 years? The answer might no longer be so obvious.

Epidemiological studies have shown the negative effects of long working hours on the risks of cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue, stress, depressive state, anxiety and sleep quality (Wong K, Chan AHS, Ngan SC – 2019). In the table below the results of meta-analysis between long working hours and occupational health conditions.

Putting aside the obvious health impacts for a moment, let’s focus solely on the potential financial and career returns: over the very long term, reducing work hours to look after our bodies has a greater impact than you might think.

Because while it’s true that in the early years it might seem like something that slows our growth, in the future, it will become the opposite: better mental health, better physical health, greater productivity, greater potential earnings.

Not just a matter of productivity

Although it started from a professional standpoint, the ultimate message is not “take care of ourselves so we can work more and better later on” but rather “if you’re sacrificing your health for career advancement, that might not be the right decision”.

If you have a job you love, you might not be able to perform it at your best down the line due to questionable decisions you’re making today. In a society where the productivity trap ensnares ever more people, it’s not easy to pause and reflect on things that might seem banal but are far from it.

If, instead, you dream of dedicating more time to yourself outside of work in the future, it’s crucial to get there in good physical and mental shape.

What I do

Just over three years ago, when I was in my mid-20s, I decided to start taking the matter seriously by embarking on a structured fitness and nutrition program.

Even though the beginning wasn’t the simplest, particularly concerning nutrition, a few months were enough to get into the routine and start noticing the first benefits. The most immediate ones were related to sleep quality, which, for the same number of hours, allowed me to face my days much better.

Over time, you notice the other benefits too: more energy, greater concentration, less stress. This all resulted in better quality work, decreasing the time required for each task. For lovers of Cal Newport’s “Deep Work”, this can’t be anything but a win condition.

Keep trying

Obviously, we’re not all alike. While training and nutrition are fundamental for everyone, it’s necessary to figure out how to adapt them to our own needs. Our lifestyle influences the type of sport or diet suitable for us too much. For this reason, rather than just picking the most mainstream things (such as the gym, which I myself attend), it’s necessary to experiment and rely on professionals in the field.

Don’t stop trying new things: for instance, I added some yoga sessions into my routine that turned out to be especially effective!

Don’t wait until your body demands it – start making yourself a priority immediately.