Feeling old?
I hear it all the time, that thing about “feeling old.”
Sometimes it’s a client, sometimes friends, they say, “oh, I’m just feeling old”. Maybe you’ve said it too, like it explains itself. Not injured or unwell, just “old”.
And I get why we might reach for it, because somewhere along the way, something changed, like some movement that used to be automatic now causes a tiny hesitation, or needs a second thought.
So this got me thinking about what’s this is really about.
I think what we mean when we say we ‘feel old’ is really about a drop in adaptability, our ability to respond well to whatever the day throws at us.
And it might be simple things too like the uneven footpath, the awkward reach into the boot or the night of bad sleep followed by a full day on our feet.
None of that is about years lived or “being old.” It’s about how much variety and challenge we’re still asking our body to handle, and how recently.
The thing is, age isn’t something we can train, but adaptability is. Every time we ask our body to do something a bit unfamiliar, carry an odd shape, move through a new range, react quickly, we’re keeping that adaptive system switched on.
When we stop asking, we stop adapting.
So maybe, we stopped using certain movements, we didn’t just “get old”.
This is why the fittest people I work with aren’t always the youngest, and why some of my older clients move with more ease under pressure than people half their age.
They’ve kept their body guessing with new challenges so when others turn up, they’re capable.
Adaptable.
So next time that feeling old thought creeps in, I encourage you to try rethinking.
Instead of “how do I stop feeling old”, ask “how many different things can my body still confidently handle right now.” Because then we can do something about it.
