I spend my entire day professionally and personally bestowing the virtues of the Health Hexagon; the 6 factors that influence the health and wellbeing of your present and future self.

It’s not that complicated in theory and doesn’t look all that innovative. Nothing new about work-life balance and the importance of sleep, diet, exercise, cognitive load, emotional insight and spiritual off-loading. The web is awash with this stuff, and we all think that we have it covered. Or we will do, once we get around to finishing that particular issue we have on our plate right now. After that’s done, you’ll be free to live the perfect Health Hexagon and get that perfect work-life balance. But you won’t. As I’ve said many times before it’s not work-life balance. It’s life. Live it. Everyday. Don’t kick that particular can down the road because before you know it, you’ll be kicking the bucket.

As part of my Health Hexagon, I run 3 times a week. 5km. Nothing massive. No desire to open the door on myself to half marathons or marathons that could lead to me finding myself trudging through the Serengeti or something. No, 5k is my sweet spot. On Tuesday and Thursday, I have one less appointment in my diary so I can go for my run. I am not relying on any other moving parts to enable me to go for that run. I am not dependent on my wife getting home from work on time or the kids being content and having had a good day at school so I can go for my run. No. I go when I can control the variables. One less appointment available in my diary on Tuesday and Thursday facilitates that.

Now, if I were to look at the financial implications of that run, and I have, it currently costs me £175 a week in lost revenue to go for that run. £175 a week for let’s say 45 working weeks of the year is an expensive gym membership. If I were to take that £175 per week and put it into a tracking fund for the S&P500 for let’s say the next 15 years that’s going to work out at about £300k. That’s a house. A holiday home somewhere. Madness to throw that holiday home away you might say.

But I don’t see it like that. I see it as an investment in me. That run. That 5k three times a week helps me on so many levels. Physically, emotionally, cognitively, spiritually, nutritionally and with my sleep cycle. That run will contribute to my present and future health and wellbeing and most likely reduce the chances of me ending up in a nursing home sooner than if I didn’t do it. No guarantee on that but I believe I’m hedging my bets in my favour and that, in itself, is contributing to my spiritual, emotional and cognitive wellbeing right now. We all know how expensive nursing homes are anyway so maybe, just maybe it’s saving me more than that £300k I’m “throwing away” in the long run and 5K isn’t even that long of a run!

When I explain this logic to people they very often ask. “Ah yes, but is there an exception to the rule? Is there anyone you would see in that slot on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon? Anyone you would squeeze in?”  There must be someone?”.

I’ve thought about this deeply and there isn’t. Yes, of course there are people I would love to meet. It would be interesting to spend time with Obama or Rick Rubin or Serena Williams or Elon Musk. But I’ve been a physio for more than a quarter of a century. I’ve met many incredible people over the years. Some of them happen to be famous, some of them are world champions, some of them have achieved spectacular things. None of them however are going to wave a magic wand and somehow make my life, my health and wellbeing perfect just by meeting them. That’s up to me. Not them.

Of course, there is the argument that life is all about the experiences. Seize the moment. Don’t be so rigid. I understand that. Many might think I’m a fool for giving up the opportunity to meet such people. Maybe their heroes? But stick with me for a little longer.

When someone comes to see me, they want something from me. As they should do. That’s the gig. I’m more than happy to help. It’s my purpose in life to look after the health and wellbeing of their 85-year-old self – no matter what age they are when they come through my door. I’m interested in helping them build their Health Hexagon so that their 85-year-old self will thank them for it. If that’s my purpose for them, then that’s what I must do for myself. Each and every day. Live the Health Hexagon and not get seduced by some celebrity or other. I make this a priority for me so that I am not a slave to anyone.

It’s too easy to blur the lines for yourself if you don’t have a clear sense of purpose. That’s why Elon Musk or anyone else for that matter can’t get that slot on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon. He can have any of the other 50 slots I have available in the week. Just not those ones. If I would make the exception for Elon Musk above and beyond someone from my local community what does that say about the ethics of what I do? I am available for absolutely anyone on the planet 50 times a week, but nobody gets slot 51. That’s for me.

Of course there was a time I did over 80 appointments a week believing that’s what you had to do. I’d squeeze people in all over the place at the expense of my own health and wellbeing but it wasn’t sustainable. As I learned more about the true cost of such decisions to your biochemistry and health metrics now and down the line, boundaries were set. 50 is the sweet spot for me now. Physically, cognitively, emotionally, spiritually, nutritionally and for my sleep cycle.

“I’ll then get asked. Ok, but what about your kids. Surely, you’d see them?” No. They don’t get the slot either and here’s why. Occasionally when I finish a run, I’ll get home and as my kids why they think that I go for my runs, in the wind, or rain, or hail or frost, snow or sunshine? They are likely very bored of me going on about the Health Hexagon, but they usually say something like “Because you want to be healthy”, “You want to blow off some stress”, “you’re looking after your Hexagon”. All true, but the main reason is actually for them.

I go for those runs to hedge my bets for my 85-year-old-self. If I look after my Health Hexagon now by saying no to appointment number 51, no matter who is asking for it, then I am less likely to be a physical burden on my children down the line. I’m more likely to maintain my independence and they won’t have to worry about me so much as I get older and that allows them to be free to get on with their own lives. That matters to me.

I get great satisfaction from my work, but I want to keep it that way. By saying no to Mr Musk, I am not a slave to the diary. I am free too. Free to take care of myself now and down the line for me and those around me. Free to have 50 appointments every week for the foreseeable future. Just not 51.

If you want to learn more about the Health Hexagon and the secrets to your health and wellbeing read my book Pain: The Ultimate Mentor, available in print, ebook & audiobook from all the usual outlets.