Health: Finding Balance

You might wonder, what does health have to do with trading? Realistically, though, what's the point of pursuing success in trading without health? For me, health and fitness have always been a paradoxical journey, a constant pendulum swing between peak physical condition and utter neglect. My teens were a period of consistent fitness, dedicated to the gym and regular sport. My twenties, however, became a chaotic mix: phases of "beast mode" training which would then give way to periods of zero fitness. I'd commit intensely—five gym sessions a week, runs through footy training, and weekend games—often imposing strict booze bans and diets on myself. But then, the switch would flip. When not in "beast mode," I'd dive into "beast mode" self-destruction: Multiple KFC drive throughs a week and relentless binge-drinking benders. It's clear that balance has always been a profound struggle for me.

Yet, in recent years, I’ve been more consistent. Alcohol consumption has significantly reduced, as has the reliance on fast food. 2024 saw me reach perhaps my fittest point in the last five years. I was determined to enter my thirties in decent shape, balancing Rugby and Cricket and creating time for weights session and the odd ocean swim. I also created ample time for the social side of sport, post game pub sessions and post-game celebrations were often indulged to the fullest. This meant not-so-quiet beers and the occasional cigarette after a game. Looking back, there were epic nights, moments that forged stories I'll share with mates for decades. But towards the year's end, as I knew it was time to curb the drinking, those nights were increasingly marred by a three-pint headache. I'd be stuck at a crossroads: do I commit to the fourth pint and carry on well on my way to writing off tomorrow, or do I go home with that random, half-pissed headache – not drunk enough to feel good, but sober enough to recognise my own dehydration? More often than not, I found myself leaning towards the latter.

Then came 2025. It was the year I decided to abandon both alcohol and cigarettes completely. It was also the year I metaphorically "hung up the boots" on playing sport. While I've upheld my promise of sobriety, and my internal organs are undoubtedly benefiting, truth be told, I don't think I've been in worse physical shape in quite some time. It's ironic, looking back. At my fittest last year, I thought I’d elevate my fitness to the next level by removing the beers and the smokes. Yet, here I am, as unfit as ever. Perhaps continuing to play, with the occasional indulgence, would have been the better path.

So now, close to the midpoint of the year, I find myself nowhere near my anticipated level of fitness; in fact, I'm even further behind. Every fiber of my being urges me to "dial it up." To embrace a "Goggins mentality," train like an Olympian for the next three months, and impose a stricter, harsher regimen than ever before. Extreme measures yield extreme results, right? But I've walked this path before. I know I possess the discipline to go three months without a gram of added sugar, to take only cold showers, to train every single day. Yet, I also know I can effortlessly swing to the reverse and embark on a 12-week bender the day its over. My true weakness, I've come to understand, lies in the middle ground. And, for me, that's precisely where I think long term success truly resides.

It's about balance. It's about training, but still allowing for the occasional sweet treat. It's embracing the long-term, slower burn. It’s the acceptance of the 80/20 rule, recognising that perfection has its expiry date. It’s understanding that one kid-sized chocolate bar doesn't grant a license to abandon all progress and eat junk for the rest of the week. Or accepting that missing a Monday gym session doesn't mean writing off the entire week and starting next Monday, just to maintain a "perfect" record. I've always struggled with this, perhaps because if it's not an impressive feat or supremely challenging, it feels boring. Perhaps if I can't go "all in," I question the point. Either way, it's time to break this all-or-nothing mentality.

My new goal for the next three months is to achieve an 80% completion rate. I'm not striving for 100% success because I know that relentless, all-in intensity demands a wild amount of motivation and mental strength that inevitably runs out. Instead, consistently operating at 80% transforms a fleeting challenge into a sustainable lifestyle, hopefully becoming my new norm. The 20% flexibility leaves room for life itself. It allows me to say yes to a relaxing weekend away with my partner, or to enjoy a few slices of pizza at the beach after a long day. It grants me the freedom to prioritise my new job, and not feel obligated to hit the gym or run after a random workday that stretches until 8 PM. Ultimately, I believe I'll be happier for it, and hopefully in turn, a better partner, mate and family member too.

At the start of the year, I had envisioned completing my second triathlon. While not a monumental feat to many, it is for me. My knees are in a world of hurt, limiting me to barely 2-3km of running on concrete before flaring up. My shoulders, too, are struggling, with full range of motion lost due to numerous, improperly rehabilitated sporting injuries. This means I'll have to engage in the unsexy, often tedious work first: setting aside the weights, and instead fiddling with elastic bands, and yoga/mobility – all things I inherently dislike. Once I break through that initial barrier, I'll need to build my lungs and cardio fitness, another thing I despise, which currently feels miles away, as simply looking at a set of stairs leaves me breathless. From there, I'll build, but even these foundational steps will be set at an 80% effort. I’m going to pull up a rep short, and end runs with a little bit left in the tank.

Hopefully, this commitment to the unsexy, consistent work will yield lessons that transition into my trading and betting. Everyone can chase those big, sexy wins. But frankly, what's far more crucial is that "middle section”, and the “unsexy stuff”. It's the ability to walk away at even when you can no longer read the play. It's about securing a small wins and accepting small losses. That is where the true keys to sustained success lie, for me atleast. It’s about being able to "stay in the wrestle," to survive the rough periods with minor setbacks, and patiently wait for the tide to turn before unleashing a big run. Winning big is easy; winning is fun; winning is sexy. But how many of us can consistently stay in the middle? To secure a small win after a big loss, rather than holding out for a large win only to see it go against you resulting in back to back big losses? How many of us, after losing four on the trot, can acknowledge that this week is damn near impossible to turn a profit and be okay with a losing week, rather than dramatically increasing stakes, and chasing a large win to end the week in profit? All the enduring success, I believe, lies in that valuable middle ground. And I hope to find it, both in my health and in my trading, moving forward. 80% is good enough, breaks are not just welcomed, but encouraged.

So, my measurable markers for the next 90 days, which I'll also track for health will be:

* Eating Healthy (Whole Foods, minimal processed)

* 3L of water intake daily

* 15 minutes of meditation

* 15 minutes of journaling

* 30 minutes of daily activity

And for trading cricket, my markers will be:

*Less than 20% big losses (more than 0.8 of a unit)

*Taking a day off after 0.8 unit lost.

It’s as simple as that. 80/20. Near enough is good enough. Pains me even to type that, but let’s see if I can shift my mindset, and find some balance come September.