Health Deposits and Withdrawals: Why Your Body Needs a Nest Egg Too
My twenties comprised of triple hospitality shifts to pay my university fees, late nights, minimal sleep, too many short macchiatos and the high stress times of juggling full time study and work.
I lived like my health account had unlimited overdraft protection. Back then, I didn’t think about the long-term cost.
The interest on those choices. The slow build-up of debt that doesn’t show up until your 30s, 40s, or later, when energy crashes, hormones shift, and resilience drops.
And like many women I work with now, I eventually realised: I’d spent a lot without saving.
It was only when I wanted to have my first baby that I began thinking about health the same way we think about money.
Your Body Is a Bank Account
Every choice you make is either a deposit or a withdrawal.
A walk in the morning? Deposit.
Scrolling late into the night? Withdrawal.
Strength training? Deposit.
Skipping meals or relying on caffeine? Withdrawal.
A blood sugar-balanced, high-protein lunch? Deposit.
Eating dinner at 9pm, stressed and rushing? Withdrawal.
You get the idea.
This framework changed how I live. It removed the guilt from past choices and helped me focus on net worth. Not perfection. Not punishment. But progress.
Paying Off the Debt
The truth is: most of us have made withdrawals. We didn’t know better. We were surviving. We were ambitious. We were having fun. And that’s okay.
But now?
My focus is on repaying the debt and building a health nest egg that will serve me in midlife and beyond.
Here’s what that looks like for me now:
Exercise daily—not just for fitness, but for metabolic health, muscle preservation, and mental clarity.
Prioritising protein and fibre—because muscle is medicine and blood sugar balance is essential for hormones, motivation, mood and energy.
Choosing a low-stress lifestyle—saying no, creating space, and protecting rest like it’s a non-negotiable investment.
I don’t do this perfectly. But I’m clear and know every deposit counts.
The Compound Interest of Good Health
Small daily deposits don’t always feel like much in the moment.
But they compound.
You don’t feel different after one high-protein breakfast.
You feel different after hundreds.
You don’t prevent osteoporosis with one strength session.
You do it with consistency over decades.
That’s the kind of ROI I care about now.
What’s Your Balance?
If you’re in a season of high withdrawal - be honest, not judgmental.
And if you’re ready to start depositing again, start small:
One balanced meal
One early night
One breath before reacting
One walk around the block
One thing at a time
That’s how we build wealth - of health, energy, longevity, and joy.
