The Health Indicator We Ignore: Financial Health
The Health Indicator We Ignore: Financial Health
And, How a Move to Suriname Was Key to My Financial Health
Before I served in the Marine Corps, I didn’t think much about moving to another country, but after the Corps, it was the most obvious choice. Especially after leaving the Corps, when I had little to no savings and an alarmingly low bank balance, I jumped at the opportunity to do a contracting job outside the United States. Unfortunately, after six years of serving in the Corps, my financial health was suffering.
By financial health, I don’t mean just having a great credit score. For me, excellent financial health balances your wellness, family responsibilities, and a stable financial future. As we wrap up our four-part "Falling Into Wellness" series, we’ve talked about mental, nutritional, and physical health—but we’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss financial health. After all, when your mind, body, and nutrition are out of balance, your financial health will feel the strain. I felt the strain in many areas in September 2015.
Mentally, I was in a tough spot, having requested an early discharge due in part to my desire to go back to school but mainly because of my deteriorating mental health. Nutritionally, I was recovering from an eating disorder, and physically, I wasn’t exercising to focus on healing. The combination of these factors left my financial health in shambles. It wasn’t until I took a contracting job in Suriname that I began rebuilding, finding balance in all aspects of my life—mental, nutritional, physical, and financial.
That experience taught me an important lesson: you cannot separate financial health from your overall well-being. When you prioritize one, the others follow suit. Let’s explore how healthcare providers like you can balance wellness, family, and career while fortifying your financial health.
As a healthcare provider, balancing career, family, and personal wellness can feel overwhelming. Financial health often takes a backseat, but neglecting it can lead to stress and burnout, impacting your work and well-being. In this final newsletter of our series, we explore how taking small, mindful steps toward improving your financial health can benefit your career and family life, all while supporting your wellness journey.
Financial Health is Holistic Health
Financial health isn’t just about how much money you have—it’s about how well your finances support the life you want to lead. Focusing on your physical and mental well-being is easier when you feel financially secure. But if you’re constantly stressed about bills, student loans, or saving for your family’s future, that stress seeps into every other area of your life. So, how do you create a healthy balance that doesn’t jeopardize your financial future?
1. Prioritize Financial Self-Care
Just as you would schedule exercise or meal prep time, carve out monthly time to review your finances. Look at your budget, check on your savings, and see where you can adjust to reduce stress. Financial self-care is about being proactive and intentional. For healthcare providers, this could mean creating a budget that accounts for your personal and professional life. Taking control of your financial health helps alleviate stress and empowers you to focus on your career and wellness.
2. Build a Financial Support System
Financial health doesn’t mean you have to figure everything out independently. By partnering with a financial planner or mentor, you can set realistic goals and strategies for long-term stability. Healthcare providers often put the needs of others first, but it’s essential to ask for help when it comes to managing your finances. A trusted advisor can help you develop a personalized plan that aligns with your professional responsibilities and family needs.
3. Balance Long-Term Investments with Immediate Needs
It’s easy to focus on the immediate financial demands of student loans, family expenses, and career development. But planning for the future, through savings or investment, is equally important. Building a financial cushion provides peace of mind. It allows you to make career choices that support your well-being without the pressure of needing to work more for immediate monetary relief. Whether setting up a 401(k) or putting away money for an emergency fund, these actions give you the financial freedom to prioritize your health and family.
4. Know Your Worth in the Workplace
As a healthcare provider, you often work long hours, and your emotional labor is immense. However, ensuring you’re compensated fairly for your time and expertise is crucial. Financial health starts with knowing and advocating for your worth in the workplace. Suppose you’re experiencing burnout or economic stress. In that case, it may be time to consider renegotiating your contract, seeking new opportunities, or adjusting your work-life balance to focus more on your well-being.
5. Teach Financial Health at Home
Balancing family life and career often means making sacrifices. However, one of the most empowering things you can do is model financial health for your family. Openly discuss budgeting, saving, and the value of economic stability with your loved ones. Building financial literacy at home creates a support system where everyone understands the importance of making mindful, long-term financial decisions.
Ultimately, financial health is not a standalone goal—it’s deeply intertwined with overall well-being. When you take care of your finances, you’re also supporting your mental, nutritional, and physical health. As healthcare providers, your financial well-being ensures you can continue to serve others without compromising your health or family life. The steps may feel small, but their impact is significant.
At the heart of it all, financial health is about security and freedom—the freedom to pursue a fulfilling career, maintain a balanced family life, and invest in your well-being. As healthcare providers, you deserve to have your financial future aligned with your passion for helping others. By making mindful decisions and prioritizing your financial health, you can create a sustainable, balanced life where wellness and family come first.
I hope this series has given you actionable insights into taking control of your well-being, from mental and nutritional health to physical and financial stability. Make sure you join us on Instagram Live on Wednesday, September 25th, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time for an epic panel discussion about seasonal strategies for balancing wellness, family, and career!
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