How to Embrace Your Fear Factor for Better Investments

If you’re planning for the future, crunching the numbers is just one part of the equation. According to Justin Els, a certified financial planner and the director of TVC Wealth and Health Managers, those reps you smash out for your well-being—both mental and physical—can affect your investments, too.

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“Good health reduces your healthcare costs, which can save you a lot of money in the long run,” he says. “But also consider that you’ll ensure job security and income stability by steering clear of missed workdays.” (Or the kind of health crisis that could leave you unable to clock in.)

However, that’s just scratching the surface of the type of gains you can garner when you start investing holistically: “Good mental health is also vital for making better financial decisions,” says Els. He cites research that points to a positive link between developing mental grit and making money. A survey conducted by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute found that poor mental health can lead people into making bad choices when it comes to balancing the books, with 71% of respondents admitting that they opted for unwise financial options during periods of stress, depression or anxiety.

“We tend to make less impulsive spending decisions when we have better control over our behaviours,” says Els. It’s clear: where the mind goes the money follows. 

Use Stress to Best Your Investments

Figuring out how to invest in your health can be as overwhelming as decoding the stock market. Much like stocks, you’re faced with a plethora of options for working up a sweat, keeping your heart happy and forging mental muscle. Els, who regularly spars as part of MMA sessions, is a big advocate for seeking out “positive stressors”, i.e., the type of experiences that will test (and improve) you both physically and mentally.

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“These stressors are ones you introduce into your life intentionally,” says the financial advisor. “They could be an intense workout or competing in a sport. These stressors trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response, which in turn will help improve your physical health, mental toughness and overall well-being.”

Els says that after taking up MMA, he became better equipped to tackle life’s daily curveballs. “A great example is starting your day with a grueling workout,” Els adds. “After that, you might find that you’re less fazed by the traffic or a stressful situation at work.” While his remedy of choice is a throwdown on the mats, your own variant could be any sport that catches your interest—CrossFit, surfing, even Padel.

“Investing your time in physical activity can pay off in many ways. Finding the time to work out can be challenging, but it’s important to prioritise it in your schedule,” says Els. “Consider waking up a little earlier to fit in a morning workout, or swapping a night out at the bar for a nature hike with friends.”

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But don’t forget your mental muscle either. Devoting a few minutes every day towards self-care practices can make life feel more manageable while helping you max out your bottom line. For Els, learning to meditate has been one of his most profitable investments, one that—like compound interest on your balance sheet snagging you bonus Randelas—has the potential for exponential gains.