💡 Think Big, Aim Small.

I'd like to share something I've been pondering lately. It might seem a bit out of the blue, but in the past, I wasn't exactly a financial whiz (I'm still not now). Luckily, I've crossed paths with some savvy folks who've generously shared their wisdom. They taught me the power of starting small, the magic of compound interest, and the importance of having a clear financial vision.

Before, I was stuck in a short-term mindset: fixating on the next paycheck, holiday, or car—without giving much thought to the bigger picture. Retirement savings? That felt like light-years away, so why bother?

But here's the thing: life lessons have a funny way of repeating themselves…

Dr. Peter Attia, an author and physician, coined a brilliant term: the "Centenarian Decathlete." It poses a simple question: what physical tasks do you want to be capable of in your 80s and beyond? Playing football with grandkids? Traveling and going on adventures? Being independent and mobile? His message is clear: our health and fitness naturally decline with age. If we want to perform what seem like basic tasks now in our later years, we need to invest early and plan ahead.

He observed that far too many people take their health for granted until it comes back to haunt them.

Sound familiar?

Now, I'm not suggesting you set training goals for your 80th birthday, but how about we broaden our perspective beyond the typical short-term fitness objectives like crushing the bench press on Monday?

10-Years

This is your wide-angle lens. What do you want your health to look like a decade from now?

First, consider how old will you be then?. What about those around you—partners, kids, family? What activities, travels, hobbies, or sports do you envision yourself doing? For instance, my eldest will be 17, and call me optimistic, but I'd love to be taking him on camping and hiking adventures.

Envision how your physical health will enhance your life's quality.

12-months

While a decade seems distant, a year flies by in a blink.

So, fast-forward 12 months—what do you want to be doing? How do you want to feel? What's your ideal health status? Is there a specific goal you'd like to achieve (running a marathon, scaling a mountain, or catching your first wave)?

Think critically: what obstacles might you face in achieving these goals?

8-weeks

Why 8 weeks, you ask? I initially considered 6 weeks, as that's typically when we start noticing improvements in health, energy, and performance. But life's unpredictable, so I added a buffer for unexpected challenges—hence, 8 weeks.

To start, what's your tangible outcome for the next 8 weeks? It's not a vast stretch of time, but it's enough to make progress. I chose the word "tangible" deliberately. Pick something that feels achievable within this timeframe.*

*Ensure you think about what other things might be happening in your life during that time and factor that in

Now, how many training sessions per week will you commit to? Which nutrition or lifestyle habits need tweaking to reach your 8-week goal? It's crucial here to shift focus from outcomes to specific behaviours. To clarify: saying you want to lose 10 lbs is an outcome—we can influence it, but not control it. However, committing to prep healthier lunches is a specific behaviour entirely within your control.

Start with outcomes but zero in on behaviour's.

Lastly, how will you stay accountable and tackle challenges during this period? Could you set up a reward system for yourself? Grab an accountable buddy or seek help from a coach?

Final Thoughts

The concept is straightforward: start big and break it down into manageable chunks. Each year comprises six 8-week blocks, each with its own clear, attainable goal, all contributing to your 12-month and 10-year vision.

10-Years, 12-Months and 8-weeks: it's your personalised health roadmap.

P.S. If you enjoyed this week's Thursday Three, please share it with a friend.

Thanks,

Jamie