At various points in everyone’s life they are confronted with a few major milestones which can spark a craving for change, and midlife can be one such stage.
Despite it being coined a ‘mid‐life crisis’, research shows that people are actually more confident and carefree and are looking to embrace and enjoy new experiences.
Three in ten (30%) people aged 45 and over in the UK think they have had a so‐called ‘mid‐life crisis’ and 30% think it is unfairly labelled, and the same number believe it should stop being used altogether, according to research by the UK’s leading health and fitness group David Lloyd Clubs.
Yet, as we reach an older age, we seem to care less what others think and get a surge in confidence and greater sense of adventure. In fact, 44% of 45‐54-year-olds would like to explore and visit new places, 36% want to exercise more and 30% would like to try some new hobbies.
A new campaign has launched encouraging the nation to embrace the ‘mid‐life celebration’ and get excited about the prospect of trying something unfamiliar.
Worryingly, 19% of those surveyed admit they don’t have the confidence to try out a new hobby at their age, and 16% are scared they won’t be any good at it.
The key to encouraging a ‘mid‐life celebration’ is getting everyone on board and 20% say they are inspired to make positive changes in their life by seeing a person their age do it.
So if the 21% of 45 and overs planning to make drastic changes in the next year do it with their heads held high, that could be the spark that ignites the rest to take on a new challenge.
Fitness is a great place to start, with 55% admitting exercising is very important to them.
And you are never too old to pick up the pace, with 21% aged 55 and over increasing the amount of time given to fitness since the beginning of 2021.
Andrea McLean, award winning TV presenter and journalist turned life coach says: “The term ‘mid-life crisis’ has such negative connotations, but by definition it means a transition of identity and self confidence.
That’s a GREAT thing! Discovering a new hobby, changing careers or obtaining a new found self confidence later in life shouldn’t be seen as negative, I think it should be celebrated and re-named as ‘mid-life change’ or even ‘mid-life celebration’.
It’s something I hear about every day with the work I do, and I know first-hand how challenging it is to do but how powerful it is once you start… you’ll wonder why you left it so long!
Last year I left a job I was very comfortable doing, which some people thought was crazy but after 13 years I wanted something new and I wanted to think about myself and my health more.
“I now feel more in control of my life than ever before, and more confident in saying no to what I don’t want and yes to things I do, even if it means trying something new and being really, really bad at it to start off with!
Being fit in mind and body plays a big part in this – I do some form of movement every day and I see my David Lloyd Club membership as something that is a part of my everyday life.
I work consistently on keeping myself mentally strong, and fitness keeps my body physically strong, both of which allow me to do all the things I want to do.
Because I may be halfway through, but I’m not halfway done’’
With a wide range of premium health and fitness facilities, and strong sense of community, David Lloyd Clubs attract members who want to be healthier as they get older.
The UK’s leading health, fitness and spa group is aiming to make its clubs more welcoming to people of all ages by employing a wider range of fitness teams and is committed to having one Fitness Trainer aged 55 or over per club on average, by the end of 2022.