Stress, Money, and Your Health: How to Make Better Decisions in Uncertain Times
Mike Collette • April 10, 2025
The Worst Investment to Cut in Uncertain Times? Your Health
It’s no secret — we’re living in a world that feels increasingly volatile.
Financial markets are unpredictable. The news cycle is overwhelming, social media noise is constant and it's harder and harder to sort through what's real and what's not. And when uncertainty rises, it's human nature for people to start making emotional decisions.
Being in the fitness industry for close to 20 years and operating Prototype Training Systems since 2012, I've seen this happen time and time again — not just in the stock market — but in our gym community.
When we feel stressed financially (and trust me, i've been there as an entrepreneur), one of the first things they often cut is their investment in their health.
Cancelling the gym. Skipping workouts. Pressing pause on coaching or training. We can go into a frenzy of what needs to be prioritized and what doesn't, and often it's rooted in anxiety and fear.
On the surface, it makes sense:
"Let me tighten up my budget until things feel safer."
But here’s the truth — it’s completely backwards.
Emotional Decisions Rarely Lead to Positive Outcomes
In a recent conversation I had with Brendan Sheehan, founder of Waymark Wealth Management (and one of our community business sponsors), we talked about this exact thing. As we are facing that uncertainty now in the market. Click the link to listen to the full podcast!
Brendan was sharing when the market drops — whether it’s 5%, 10%, or more — people panic.
But the data shows this happens all the time. He shared that "the market dips of 5-10% happens three times a year on average."
Dips of 10-20%? Happens at least once a year.
It’s not unusual — but when emotions take over, we make decisions that can hurt long-term.
And this same pattern can show up in health and fitness.
Your Health is Not a Luxury — It’s Essential
Let’s be real — when life feels hard, stressful, or uncertain, you need your health more than ever.
Exercise isn't just about aesthetics or performance — it's your anchor.
Working out helps you regulate stress, sleep better, stay clear-headed, and avoid the emotional roller coaster that uncertainty brings.
Cutting your health investments when things get tough is like saying:
"The storm is coming... so I'm going to throw away my umbrella."
It doesn’t make sense, but this what happens when emotions are high, it's REALLY hard to make logical decisions. We can get into a binary mode of thinking... then we take action which often isn't fully thought out.
The Vicious Cycle: Stress → Cut Health → Decline → Regret
Here's the common pattern we’ve seen over the years... and I would argue is common in every gym across the country...
Things get tough financially or emotionally. We go into "panic" mode... start to take action.
People cut their gym membership or stop exercising. Maybe you over narrate it's not worth it... maybe you over narrate I'll just do it on my own and change my entire routine... or maybe you think it will only be very short term.
Then, stress increases. Energy drops. Sleep gets worse.
Health declines
— physically and mentally.
Time passes... regret
kicks in.
"I wish I hadn't stopped. Now it’s even harder to get back."
Sound familiar? It's a vicious cycle and REALLY hard to break.
We’ve seen it over and over — and we’ve helped people climb back out of it.
But we’d rather help you avoid that spiral in the first place.
What Should You Do Instead?
- Have faith in your routine and take a second to pause before making a major life change.
- Double down on habits that ground you — like fitness, community, and nutrition.
- Talk to a coach. Share what’s stressing you out — we’re here to help.
- Be curious — ask questions before making big decisions.
Remember: health is not the problem — it’s the solution.
Final Thought:
Uncertainty will always be part of life. Markets go up and down. Challenges will come and go.
But the best investment you can make — in any economy — is in your physical and mental well-being.
At Prototype Training Systems, we’re more than a gym. We’re a community that helps people stay grounded, consistent, and healthy — no matter what’s happening outside our walls.
If you’re feeling the pull to cut your health in hard times — let’s talk. Book a Free Goal Review Session with a coach... seriously, we're here to help.
We’ll help you navigate uncertainty the right way — by staying strong, staying consistent, and investing in yourself.
By the way if you've made it this far, check out our most recent Community Conversation with Brendan Sheehan of Waymark Wealth management as he goes into detail on market changes, your health and what you can do. Below is a summary of the conversation as well as a link to our YouTube page!
1. Market Volatility is Normal (Data-Driven Perspective)
- Market pullbacks of 5-10% happen ~3 times per year.
- Drops of 10-20% happen about once per year.
- While current conditions feel intense, they aren’t unprecedented historically.
2. Emotions Drive Decisions (Especially in Money & Health)
- Fear, anxiety, and uncertainty cause people to make rash financial decisions (like pulling investments at the worst time).
- The same emotional patterns show up in health and fitness — skipping the gym or stopping routines during stress.
3. The Psychology of Money (Political Leanings Influence Feelings)
- People’s views of the economy are heavily influenced by political affiliation.
- Studies show that when a Republican is president, Republicans feel better about the economy — and vice versa for Democrats.
4. Why Health & Fitness Should Be Your Anchor During Stress
- The first thing people cut during hard times is often their health spending — but this is the exact opposite of what’s needed.
- Exercise, community, and routine are powerful tools to manage stress, regulate emotions, and maintain long-term well-being.
5. The VUCA World Concept
- VUCA = Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity.
- Originally a military term — now applies to modern life and business.
- In a VUCA environment, staying grounded in healthy routines is essential.
Key Takeaways:
- Control what you can control: your emotions, your routine, your health.
- Avoid making emotional financial decisions — seek advice and stay informed.
- Don’t stop investing in your physical or mental health during hard times — it’s your greatest asset.
- Surround yourself with positive, grounded people (get off the doom-scrolling social media cycle!).
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