Get Mid-life Decisive

April 5, 2022

I know the more familiar term is ‘mid-life crisis,’ but I’d rather think about getting ‘mid-life decisive’.

What do I mean by this?

Well, as we reach our life’s assumed mid-point - usually between 40 and 50 - we tend to reflect upon what has come before and think about what we might like to change in the future. 

The age-old stereotype is a man buying a totally impractical sports car, or perhaps a woman deciding to take herself off on a new adventure on a Greek island but, these extremes aside, there really is something to be said about re-evaluating your life goals. And the mid-life stage is as good a time as any to do this.

Whether you previous years have focussed on career, family or just filling your calendar with exotic holidays and full-on social events, there’s no doubt that allowing a little more time for fitness as you get older can only be a good thing.

Getting mid-life decisive to me means looking at the elements of your life which are important to you and protecting them as much as you possibly can. Future-proofing your life if you like.

Whether you want to be able to play games in the park with your children (maybe even your grandchildren) or want to make sure that you’ll exhaust your bucket list of travel destinations, health will undoubtedly be the most significant factor in achieving these goals.

Few people could or would argue the connection between regular exercise and good health.

  • From a physical point of view, sports, training or working out prevents weight gain, tones the body, and maintains muscle strength. All good things - the kind of things which make many of life’s other activities so much easier. Being leaner and stronger helps in almost every area of employment, in performing the majority of household chores and even simply taking your beloved pet for a walk
  • From a medical point of view, getting your 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of intense exercise (as per BMA, WHO and many other recognised health authorities recommendations) will reduce your risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. These are all things which could seriously hamper your ability to maintain the fulfilled lifestyle you’d planned for later years, so protecting yourself from them is a must
  • From a well-being point of view, there are few things as effective as regular physical activity to improve and maintain your mental health. Thanks to your body releasing endorphins as you train, mood is lifted, and the feel-good factor is maximised. Taking your work-out outdoors can take it to another level, harnessing the power of fresh air and immersing yourself in nature’s beauty. And, whilst the ageing process takes its own toll on mental agility, those who exercise regularly tend to remain sharper and more focussed in later life.

Most people think about pension arrangements and about what retirement will look like for them. In my opinion, consideration of health and fitness is a very important part of such future planning, especially since it can have such a significant effect on all of the things you will be able to do. 

It’s never too early to decide to make your health and wellbeing a priority, but by mid-life I’d say its especially important to get decisive about how you are going to make it happen!

Thanks to over 15 years of Personal Training experience, I am able to help you put together a tailored plan to achieve your very specific life goals. There’s no time like the present to start, so why not arrange your free personal consultation now.