By 2018, I’d been teaching for three years. My target audience was men and women over 55 years old. The majority were retired, but a few preferred a 7 a.m. or 7 p.m. session to fit around their work schedule.

Becoming the Best Trainer for Older Adults

By this time, I had over 40 clients and dedicated myself to becoming the best trainer I could be for older adults. I focused on joint mobility, balance, and functional strength—areas that matter most to my older clients.

What Is Functional Training?

Functional training improves strength and movement patterns that mimic daily activities, sports, or specific real-life tasks.

All clients complete a medical form before training with me; virtually everyone has an issue or two or three: hips, lower back, knees, fatigue, autoimmune conditions, heart or lung problems, and so on.

I had to get good at finding exercises that worked around or with certain limitations. However, functional strength training wasn’t for everyone because it added more stress to an already stressed body.

From Fitness to Functional Medicine

My curiosity led me down a new rabbit hole—how the body functions beyond the physical. I wanted to understand the metabolic systems: hormones, immune system, digestion, nervous system, and how energy is created.

I invested £5,000 and 12 months in a deep dive into functional medicine, a systems-based approach to healthcare that focuses on the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms.

The day I passed my course was a proud moment for this then-63-year-old. It marked the beginning of my journey to optimizing health, not just for my clients but also for myself.

Health and Well-Being: Your Top Priorities

Let’s return to the original question: How to prioritise those 16 hours per week?

It starts with your health, fitness, and well-being.

A few months after completing my functional medicine course, I wrote and published a book on Amazon, arranging the chapters in their order of importance:

• Stress – The Three Sides of Stress
• Calm – Space and Why We Need More of it.
• Sleep – How to Experience a Natural Deep Sleep Every Night
• Diet – Why Losing Weight Is More Than Eat Less, Move More

Stress: The Three Types and Why It’s a Slow Killer

When the big job is over, you have no excuse not to make self-care your top priority, and you can’t care for anyone else until you’re strong, healthy and fit. Remember the flight attendant’s safety briefing: secure your oxygen mask before assisting your child.

In my book, I explore the three types of stress:

1. Physical
2. Emotional/Mental
3. Chemical

Stress comes in many forms, some obvious (like divorce, moving house, or job loss) and some less so (lack of purpose, poor sleep, or overscheduling).

My No-Stress Business Rules

When I ended my big job, I made three simple rules for starting another business:

• No stock
• No staff
• NO STRESS

Stress affects every function in your body—from your digestion to your relationships.

The Impact of Stress on Your Daily Choices

Stress doesn’t just impact your mind; it affects:

• What and how you choose to eat
• How well you digest and absorb nutrients
• The quality of your sleep
• Your ability to recover from illness
• Your communication and relationships

Taking steps to minimise stress is a vital part of Ageing Responsibly. It’s about finding ways to bring peace, joy, and calm into your life.

Rediscovering Purpose After the Big Job

I sold my business, and overnight, that major stressor was gone, but within 12 months, I was concerned about my lack of purpose after the big job ended.

As I’ve explained in previous blogs, I’ve found (and continue to find) ways to grow, give, and live a more fulfilled life.

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Together, we can inspire more people to age responsibly and live bigger lives.

Next Week: Finding Purpose and Meaning After Retirement

Thanks

Tony