This year, I turned 52 and had an epiphany that I am literally at the “use it or lose it” stage of life. To not lose it, I obviously had to use it, which led me to ask: what exactly is “it”? A lot has happened this year as a result, starting with selling the house I bought back when my web development business was initially going well. I bought a new home that was much cheaper, paid for it outright, and finally got out of debt. Getting settled into my new place really got me thinking about the future, and knowing I don’t want to be weak or reliant on others as I age set everything else in motion.
Defining What “It” Is
Getting back to the question of what “it” is, I think “it” is whatever you’re focused on or whatever you’ve decided is important to you. For me, that means my body recomposition, because if I don’t actively strengthen and train my body, I will simply get weaker and fatter. It also applies to learning the acoustic guitar—if I don’t pick it up, tune it, and actually start the lessons, I will never learn how to play. For me, “it” is also about web development, because if I don’t sit down and do the work, my sites just remain ideas floating around in my head without an audience. Ultimately, “it” is whatever your focus is on, and if you don’t use your “it,” you absolutely will lose it, especially after 50.
“Ultimately, ‘it’ is whatever your focus is on, and if you don’t use your ‘it,’ you absolutely will lose it, especially after 50.”
Preparing for the Long Haul
If I’m stuck on the manufacturing floor, I still have another 15 or so years to work, and I don’t want them to be absolutely miserable. Knowing I’m nearing the end of my manufacturing years, I took what I thought would be an easier job to make things less rough, even though it paid a lot less. That didn’t turn out well—which is a story for another time—but it’s all part of the process. While navigating that, I also decided it was time to end my 15-plus year hiatus from web development. Whether it remains a hobby for now or I eventually begin to earn an income from it again, I just needed to start building a foundation for the future.
Reaching Out for External Expertise
While working at that easier job, I began researching local gyms and eventually joined one right in my own town. I actually had a home gym in my old house, but relying completely on myself to use it just didn’t work. Because I didn’t use it, my body didn’t change, and I didn’t get any stronger. I realized I don’t know everything and can’t simply teach myself everything, which meant I needed to go to external sources for help. I looked into getting a trainer, which my gym offered, and while it isn’t cheap, I now have skin in the game because I refuse to pay for something without getting results. That financial commitment kept me consistent through a rough ride, and while it’s easier now, I still have to put in the work.
“I actually had a home gym in my old house, but relying completely on myself to use it just didn’t work. Because I didn’t use it, my body didn’t change, and I didn’t get any stronger.”
Finding Time and Cultivating Discipline
Getting back into web development was another major goal, and you can read about that process in my post titled “Years in Exile
“. I’ve always liked web development; stepping away was just a matter of life happening and needing to keep the lights on. Now that I’m out of debt and sticking to a 40-hour work week, I have a little more time, though it still takes serious discipline. Some days, I just have to show up at my workstation, even if it’s just to log in and look around for a bit. The important part is that I clocked in, kept the momentum going, and allowed those residual efforts to build up over time. I now manage three websites: DaymonH.com as my personal sounding board, Buckeye Web Development, and FireWithFire.ai.
The Power of Showing Up
Learning to play the acoustic guitar is another goal I’ve finally committed to accomplishing, which you can read about in “I Bought a Guitar
“. Just like with web development, fitness training, and everything else I tackle, success simply comes down to showing up. Putting in a little time every day, even if just briefly, is the secret to building any habit. This mindset brought me to my next tool for self-improvement: audiobooks. I know some people love to read physical books, but while I am very good at reading, I absolutely hate sitting down with text on paper. Audiobooks were a game changer because I could extract the information I wanted entirely on my own time during breaks or commutes.
“The important part is that I clocked in and kept the momentum going. All those little efforts are residual, and they build up significantly over time.”
1% Adds Up Over Time
Just because you listened to a book instead of reading it doesn’t mean the knowledge fails to stick. It absolutely does stick, and it has completely solidified my trajectory for self-improvement. You will likely see references to these books across my articles, including my recent mentions of Atomic Habits and Mark Manson’s Models. Getting back to Atomic Habits, one specific point helped me tremendously: results are a lagging measure of your habits. To break down the fundamental point, it’s all about marginal gains. Just doing a little bit here and a little bit there—improving by 1% on whatever you’re focused on—adds up massively over time.
Over 50 is Just Different
Most of these changes and new habits didn’t happen until I turned 52, because being over 50 is just different. When I was younger, I had time, which probably explains my 15-year hiatus from web development more than I realized. At 50, it becomes readily apparent that time isn’t exactly on your side. If you don’t take care of yourself, your health can decline quickly, and we naturally tend to get set in our ways as we age. Science even says cognitive function starts to decline after 50, so while you could adopt these habits at a younger age, being the age I am now creates a distinct sense of urgency.
The Physical Reality of Starting Now
That urgency is the key, and you simply have to start. Things are functionally different because of my physical age, particularly with the body recomposition I’m going through now. I’ve lost about 30 pounds since March and gained some muscle along the way, but I’ll save the specific macros and workout details for another post. The main point is that training, eating, and recovery are entirely different games for people over 50, but the effort still pays off.
“There is a heavy stigma about people over 50 starting new things… In my opinion, that’s a total lie, and you shouldn’t believe it for a second.”
You Just Have to Start
There is a heavy stigma about people over 50 starting new things, driven by the idea that self-discovery and experimenting are reserved for young people in their 20s or 30s. In my opinion, that’s a total lie, and you shouldn’t believe it for a second. Anything you want to do, you can start, and you just have to start. A great audiobook to nail down that exact philosophy is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, and I’ll just leave you with that.
