Hanging up the mouse for good...

Ah that distant land where you no longer answer to your boss, or spend hours hunched over a computer responding to client requests. We have all dreamt about it, planned for it, and work hard daily to ensure we have the money to enjoy it. The adverts popping up on your LinkedIn feed about securing your retirement are a constant reminder about planning for the future.

This post is not about securing your financial future, or finding the promised land before your mid 60s... Its about you and the condition you are in today, and the condition you might be in when you do finally get to retire. I walked away from stamping trade tickets for money managers with little idea of what to do next. Three years later, I’m still unsure where this journey will lead (maybe even back to Wall Street), but one thing I’m 100% certain of: if you want to have a shot at enjoying retirement, your health today has to be your top priority. "Of all your resources, your health is your most precious—more precious than your money, your house, your friends."

Walter M. Bortz II M.D. Author Dare to be 100 These days the resources are plentiful if you wish to research the impact of lifestyle on longevity. Also these days the pitfalls in society which will stop you improving your lifestyle are plentiful (consumer culture, diagnose and treat vs prevention, comfort crisis, loneliness epidemic, profits over people particularly in food manufacturing, sitting the new smoking, net worth over self worth, etc.). One thing I can share with confidence is the incredible impact regular exercise has on the people I now surround myself with on a daily basis. The success stories are there to see with my own eyes, as I work hard to fire people up and ensure that they commit to their goals. One client worked for a huge money manager in Manhattan and ballooned to his PB on the scales, in a bad way. His first boxing session he fell over unable to support the structure he was holding. Fast forward to today (all inside of 2024) he has dropped 50lbs, was headhunted by another firm to build out his own trading desk and I regularly see him running past my window or in class. He has become a leader inside our fitness community.

Our bodies are designed to move, we have cells inside our bodies which work more efficiently the more we move. That doesn't need to be intense boxing classes or 5 mile runs but it does need to be something, and done consistently. "But as Edward Stanley put it way back in 1873, “Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

John Robbins Author Healthy at 100 In your day to day life you can group decisions into right decisions or easy decisions. If you are in the habit of making easy decisions moment to moment, then overtime these will catch up with you. Regularly skipping the workout for other recreational activities, having that sugary syrup in your daily coffee, staying up late watching TV rather than prioritizing sleep, the list is endless. I am sure you do not need to think too hard to find some easy vs right decisions. “Short-term easy is long-term hard. Short-term hard is long-term easy." Shane Parrish Creator Farnam Street and Best selling Author The past 18 months working at the gym has opened the door to hearing all manner of excuses, seeing people drift in and out of their fitness journeys, or never even getting started: I am too old - Well Bruce who is 70 years old, a successful Psychiatrist on the UES, trains with me every Sunday isn't too old. How are you too old? Too lazy or lacking motivation maybe? I can help with that. I have no time - Arnold Schwarzenegger "Everybody has time to train. If you think you don’t, do me a favor: open up your phone and look at how much time you spent on social media yesterday. That’s a choice." You can do a 30 minute workout and shower after, or scroll social media for an hour? Your call. Both provide dopamine hits, however one requires no effort and over time will nuke your posture, motivation and ability to connect. I can help with this. You don't understand, you don't have kids - I can not comment on how difficult it is to have kids, but I do see with my close friends how much work they put in. What I will say is that the greatest gift you can give them is not an iPad or games console, it's more time on this planet. Also if you want your kids to be healthier and more active then lead by example. My pops is approaching 75 - I have got him back in the gym. If he can do it - what is stopping you? I am too tired - Exercise increases blood flow, which helps your body use oxygen more efficiently. This helps your mitochondria produce energy, which allows your body to function better. The more you move the better you feel. Just get started. Also remember that FEELINGS follow BEHAVIOURS. If you are tired we should address the basics: sleep, nutrition and movement. The first steps in anything are the hardest, lets get you moving and then keep that train going. I have many more but you get the idea... There is a part of the brain called the anterior mid-singular cortex which only grows when you do those things you do not wish to do. I get it, waking up early to train takes willpower, training after a long day takes willpower, saying no to certain things takes willpower. Know that every time you make the right decision over the easy decision you are developing this part of the brain.

Why is this interesting? Scientists studied the brains of people who lived to 100 and they found that the vast majority of them had a larger than normal anterior mid-singular cortex. Making tough decisions not only improves your life it can also extend it. Today we have become desperate for quick fixes versus doing the work. The right decision often takes effort, yet the world around us is being designed to minimize the amount of effort needed to do anything, easy decisions are becoming even easier. We have become accustomed to quick fixes, instant gratification and magic pills. If there is a tiny part of you looking for change, a desire to improve your health for those that love you, then lets talk. Together we will get clear on YOUR WHY so that the HOW becomes easy. It is amazing how quickly you will feel inspired once you get going.