Peeking Through the Keyhole at Ageing
Let’s talk about ageing. That thing creeping up on us like a nosy neighbour. It doesn’t knock loudly at first. It just sort of lurks and whispers things like, “You sure you want to squat that low?” or “How about a nap instead of a walk?”
Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand that ageing is a privilege and not everyone gets to do it. While our lifespan (how long we live) is something to be grateful for, our healthspan (how long we live well) is where the magic really happens. And that’s something I am hugely passionate about.
Lifespan v Healthspan
Lifespan is your body’s timeline or the number of candles on your birthday cake. Healthspan is living in good health and actually enjoying the cake, not just sitting there with back pain and trying to remember if you took your pills. In other words, it’s living long versus living strong.
Many people spend the last 10–15 years of their life managing illnesses, mobility issues, or feeling like their body’s warranty expired straight after they retired. But with the right lifestyle choices (and I mean realistic, achievable ones), we can delay that decline, peek through the keyhole and say: “Hi Ageing, I see you but I’m a bit busy doing lunges, laughing with friends, and making a nourishing salad. Try and catch me in a decade or two.”
Why I Became a Health Coach
I became a health coach for many reasons, not because I think people need to live forever, but above all because I believe we deserve to feel good for as long as we’re alive (ultimately by giving your body what it needs, being physically and mentally strong, and reducing our risk of disease). I see people give up on their bodies, not because they wanted to, but because no one ever taught them that feeling better is still possible, after kids, after age 40, after age 65! We charge through life, juggling work, family, burnout, and screen time like it’s an Olympic event, then wonder why we’re tired, sore, or mentally frazzled. Meanwhile our bodies are quietly whispering: “Hey, a little support here would be lovely. Maybe some sleep, some veggies, a good stretch?”
And when we listen, even just a little, the body responds. It doesn’t need perfection, but wants consistency, care, and a little respect, the same way you’d treat your flourishing houseplants or treasured pets.
Aging Gracefully
I’m not here to say we can outrun aging, even sprinters can’t, but I am here to say that we can push back, not recklessly, not with denial, but with intention, with laughter, with wholesome food, movement that empowers us, and daily habits that keep us connected to life.
And science backs this up! Strength training, nourishing whole foods, connection, quality sleep, stress management, joyful movement, these are the key players in extending our healthspan. We’re not talking extreme diets, biohacking your DNA, or bathing in seaweed, we’re talking simple, sustainable, doable, evidence-based lifestyle behaviours that help us feel good now and protect us for later.
In Conclusion
My passion for being a health coach comes from wanting people to live well, prevent lifestyle diseases, and feel good. To have more energy, fewer symptoms, and a body that allows you to keep enjoying what you did when you were younger. If ageing is knocking, you don’t have to let it in, politely say come back later because you’re fully booked doing the things that make you feel alive.
Monday 23rd June, 2025