Your Health Is Your Greatest Asset: Why Wellness Must Come Before Work

This blog post was inspired by a conversation I had at the weekend with a friend. I suggested she join me for Pilates, and her response stopped me in my tracks: "I'm usually working that late." The class starts at 7:35pm. She'd been working since the morning.

We've all heard the phrase "health is wealth," but how many of us truly live by it? In our relentless pursuit of career success, deadlines, and professional achievements, we often sacrifice the one thing that makes it all possible: our health.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: if you don't have your health, you don't have anything.

No amount of career success, financial gain, or professional recognition matters if you're too exhausted, unwell, or burnt out to enjoy it. Your body isn't just a vehicle that carries you through life—it's the foundation upon which everything else is built.

The Cost of Neglecting Your Health

When we consistently prioritise work over wellness, our bodies keep score. Chronic stress, sedentary lifestyles, and poor nutrition don't just impact how we feel today—they compound over time, leading to serious health consequences that can derail everything we've worked so hard to achieve.

The irony? We often sacrifice our health to advance our careers, only to spend our later years (and earnings) trying to recover what we've lost.

Movement: Your Body Was Designed to Move

Our ancestors didn't sit at desks for eight hours a day. They moved, hunted, gathered, walked, and stayed active from sunrise to sunset. Yet modern life has trapped us in chairs, behind screens, and in sedentary routines that our bodies simply weren't designed for.

The minimum standard? Three workouts per week. But movement shouldn't be confined to the gym. It needs to be woven into the fabric of your daily life.

Make Movement Non-Negotiable

• Schedule your workouts like business meetings – they're just as important

• Take walking breaks every hour – set a timer if you need to

• Stand while taking phone calls – it's a simple habit with big impact

• Use the stairs instead of the lift – every bit of movement counts

• Walk or cycle for short journeys – your body and the planet will thank you

Continuous movement throughout the day is just as crucial as dedicated workout sessions. Your body craves variety and regular activity, not just intense bursts followed by hours of stillness.

Nutrition: Fuel Your Body, Don't Just Feed It

You wouldn't put cheap petrol in a luxury car, so why would you fuel your body with processed, nutrient-poor food? What you eat directly impacts your energy levels, mental clarity, immune function, and long-term health.

But here's where balance comes in: healthy eating shouldn't feel like punishment.

The Balance Approach

• Prioritise whole, unprocessed foods – vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains

• Hydrate consistently – water is your body's most essential nutrient

• Plan your meals – don't leave nutrition to chance or convenience

• Enjoy treats mindfully – restriction breeds resentment; balance breeds sustainability

• Listen to your body – eat when you're hungry, stop when you're satisfied

The Mediterranean way of eating, which we embrace here in Greece, exemplifies this balance beautifully. Fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared simply, enjoyed with others, and savoured without guilt.

Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World

Balance doesn't mean perfection. It means making conscious choices that honour both your ambitions and your wellbeing.

You can be successful AND healthy. In fact, you'll be more successful when you prioritise your health, because you'll have the energy, focus, and resilience to perform at your best.

Creating Your Health-First Lifestyle

Set boundaries: Your work will expand to fill whatever time you give it. Protect your workout time, your meal times, and your rest time with the same fierceness you protect important meetings.

Reframe your thinking: Exercise isn't something you "fit in" when you have time—it's the foundation that gives you the energy and mental clarity to tackle everything else.

Start small: If three workouts per week feels overwhelming, start with two. If standing every hour seems impossible, start with every two hours. Progress, not perfection.

Find what you love: Movement shouldn't be torture. Whether it's yoga, hiking, swimming, dancing, or strength training, choose activities that make you feel alive.

The Greek Approach to Wellness

Here in Greece, we understand something that the rest of the world is only beginning to rediscover: life is meant to be lived, not just endured. Work is important, but it's not everything.

The concept of philoxenia (love of strangers) extends to how we treat ourselves. We move naturally throughout our days, we eat fresh, seasonal food prepared with care, and we prioritise connection, rest, and joy.

This isn't about being lazy or unmotivated—it's about being sustainable. It's about building a life you don't need to escape from.

Your Health Is Your Responsibility

No one else can prioritise your health for you. Not your employer, not your family, not your doctor. This is your responsibility, and it's the most important one you have.

Your body is the only place you have to live. Treat it with the respect, care, and attention it deserves.

Make the commitment today:

• Move your body at least three times per week

• Stay active throughout your day

• Nourish yourself with real, wholesome food

• Find balance between discipline and enjoyment

Because at the end of the day, if you don't have your health, you truly don't have anything. But when you do prioritise your wellbeing, everything else becomes possible.

Ready to make your health a priority? At Evexia Kos, we create transformative wellness experiences that help you reconnect with your body, establish sustainable healthy habits, and rediscover what it means to truly thrive. Explore our retreats and programmes at www.evexia-kos.com.

Your health is waiting. What are you going to do about it?