BBQ ribs and a bottle of wine for your thoughts?

Here's a question I've been thinking about...

Last week I spoke about financial health—what it means not only for your pocketbook, but for your mental health. It got me thinking that there is a lot more to health than our pocketbooks, and maybe we should poke at that a little. This Broker Thought may be a little spicy, so buckle up!

We have all read the articles about how “5 a.m. risers” are supposedly more productive and how a set bedtime ritual will change your life. I have read that eating vegetables and Diet Coke is the key to health and happiness. Of course, we all know these things to be true; we don't need a Johns Hopkins–peer-reviewed study to tell us this. But do we care enough to do it?

I have a colleague—let's call her Kathleen—and I routinely tease her about her 2 a.m. emails or hear about how she was up until 4 a.m., engrossed in a project. She is an amazing human, and her brain goes faster than a rocket. But I worry that 4 a.m. may not be the best thinking time. It certainly wreaks havoc on her when the alarm clock goes off at 6:30.

Another good friend of mine goes to bed, I swear to baby cheeses, at 7:30 p.m. He is 50 years old! My bedtime was later than that when I was 8, and my parents were monsters. But he too has issues sleeping and routinely tells me how crappy he slept the night before and how it affects his day.

I have struggled with my weight my entire life. And believe me, I would much rather believe that BBQ ribs, French fries and a Diet Coke constitute a balanced meal. (There is a vegetable garnish somewhere, right?) But at some point, we have to admit that our bodies keep receipts. We can ask them to put up with a lot, but eventually they send us the bill.

Now, I am by no means a Greek god, despite what my Snapchat filter shows me to be. (But it is pretty good, right? See photo above!) But I do make it a habit to be in bed by 10 p.m. and lights out, no exceptions, by 10:30. I rise at 6:15, have coffee, feed the family, walk the dog and head to OrangeTheory for torture—errr, a workout—by 7:30 three days a week. Get me off this schedule, and I assure you Nicholas (and those around him) is not a happy camper.

So why do it all? Why eat right, work out, practice yoga and go to church if, at the end of the day, we are all gonna die anyway? Well, IMHO, because it creates habits. Healthy ones. When you take care of yourself, you tend to feel better. When you feel better, you tend to show up better. And when you show up better, chances are your business notices too.

So while this is not your typical weekly broker advice column about how to build and execute systems and processes (don't worry, we will return to normal programming next week!), it is a reminder to take care of yourself. This business creates a mental strain that most people simply cannot comprehend. Add a terrible sleep schedule, excess BBQ ribs or a bottle of wine every night, and eventually something is going to give. Maybe your career. Maybe your relationships. Maybe your health. You cannot build a sustainable career if you aren't building a sustainable life. And yes, your significant other would probably appreciate a snuggle once in a while.

Just like they tell us every time we get on an airplane: Put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your clients, your family and the career you're working so damn hard to build.

Now go eat some broccoli. 🥦

So, to answer the question I have been thinking about… are BBQ ribs and Diet Coke a balanced meal?

Nicholas Yale

Designated Broker/Owner | Brokers Hub Realty