Time is a cruel mistress...

Time is a cruel mistress. It is the one rule that governs us all.

One of the first conversations I have with my clients is about time.

We are all shackled by the same harsh reality. 24 hours in a day. 7 days in a week.

Beyond that, we can start to look deeper at the impact of time and our pursuit of goals.

For most, the elephant in the room is how they live today and its impact on the years they have to play with. I have sadly lost close friends far too soon: one at 19, another in their late 20s, and most recently, one at 39.

They do not have the chance to discuss time with me. You do.

Let's play the longevity game. Pick a number in the future. 70? 85? 100 not out? Somewhere around there would be nice!

This new idea that AI will allow us all to live to 150 is novel and lovely for those who nonchalantly smash back the lagers and pound the family-size salt and vinegar (that was me).

However, even if that rings true, you can't be 200 lbs overweight, a shell of a human, and hope that our Lord Savior, Mr. A.I., will Houdini 75 more years for you.

Let's keep it simple. My parents are 75. I want them to live to be 100. They might not want to, but I am in their corner, banging the drum and willing them to break through the expectations of the typical middle-class wine-sipping boomer.

As the modern world shovels sugar and booze into our bodies at an alarming rate, produces content for our screens more than ever before, and urges us to crave comfort over movement, achieving this number we chose in the future will undoubtedly need some management.

For my parents to see 100, they needed to make some lifestyle choices—AS WE ALL DO! Pops has eased back on the vino; they both hit the gym thrice a week, and sugar has been cut back to special occasions only. For those who know, Colin the Caterpillar

birthday cake is the first thing I buy at Heathrow airport when I visit. We can always find somone's birthday to celebrate!

In my coaching practice, my parents have unknowingly become clients two and three (behind yours truly as client #1). Some days, I am sure they want to tune me out. Hell, some days, I want to tune myself out (most days, my wife wants to tune me out).

I love smashing beers and eating a bag of salt and vinegar larger than a sleeping bag, but my goals are more precise now. How I spend my time, how my parents go about their daily lives, and how we all live directly impact our quality and length of life.

Marketing and society tell us to live in the now and worry about the implications tomorrow. Fear not; they will sell you a solution to those needs then as well. The now usually means consuming a bunch of stuff you either don't need or that directly impacts your health.

Living in the now is the beauty of life, but never forget that your now has consequences for your future. How you spend your time directly impacts your time!

So, pick a number that sounds good to you. Know what it takes to get there—70, 80, 90, or 100 not out. Look in the mirror and ask if you are doing the things that give you a chance of reaching it. Both mental and physical health will play a part.

Of course, there are days when we fall off. We are humans, not robots, but if your day-to-day life is packed with banana skins—feeling good today versus not seeing as many tomorrows—then that needs addressing.

Life is precious.

Life is short.

How you make your choices in the now should have a nod to the days you hope to see far off into the future.