Apr
25
CDC Says Smoking Hurts Productivity
April 25, 2008 | 1 Comment
“CDC: Smoking hurt productivity.
Early deaths caused by smoking cost the nation about $92 billion in
lost productivity from 1997 to 2001… Smoking reduces life
expectancy an average of about 14 years by way of lung cancer, heart
disease, and other illness….” Found in USA Today, Friday 1st of
July 2005.
Statistics are just that… statistics. But more, and more frequently I do see this type of article on the news. The reality is that less than perfect health habits are costing ourselves and our nation dearly. I will leave economists the task of figuring out how much it costs our economy, and I will concentrate on how it affects us.
- I believe that if you do not have to worry about bad health you can worry more about succeeding in your career or your financial goals. Even if you do not care too much about those goals, you may at least worry about you and your family’s happiness more.
- I also believe that a physically fit person is more agile and gets tired less. This means more time to conduct revenue generating activities, or at least family fun and experience sharing with friends.
Being healthy must have some impact in your happiness and in your finances. I can think about a few (listed below), can you think about more?
- Keep your weight at the current level and you do not have to buy new clothes.
- Stop smoking and you may be saving around $5 a day, or $1500 a year (around 4% of the pre-tax typical US family income).
- Play a sport with friends (like basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer) — it may be less expensive than meeting for dinner at an expensive restaurant.
- Invite friends for dinner at home – you will be able to share the same amount of time, or even more, but you can make sure the food is slightly healthier.
- Less smoking breaks, more career advancing time. Use the 15 minutes to interact with your co-workers rather than smoking in the cold snow or rain. (granted, you can also network with other smokers, but you may be missing some people).
- Coach your kids soccer team (or be a scout leader, or some other active youth organization). It will be an active way of enjoying family time, meeting your child friend’s parents (networking and knowing where your kid may be after the game).
- Take a walk around the block with your family after finishing dinner. (It may be better than the latest reality TV show and may allow you to ask them about how they are doing at school and work).
- Do your own gardening/yard work, it will provide a bit of exercise and a bit of savings.
- If you live in a city, walk to work – again, a bit of exercise, and a bit of savings.
- Brown bag your lunch and walk into a local park to eat it. Healthier, and gives you an excuse to get outside and enjoy the sunny day.
BTW, Budgetting Babe inspired me about preparing lists of ideas. She has very good saving ideas on her site. This article has been reprinted from the Anes Weblog. Originally published on 07-01-2005.
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