July 14, 2026

Why Working Harder Stops Working After 50 (And What to Do Instead)

58 minutes

This episode is sponsored by Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist.

Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist.- Become a health & fitness coach who finally speaks midlife women’s language. Learn how to design workouts that balance hormones that actually get results for women in menopause.

Other Episodes You Might Like:

Previous Episode - What I Would Do to Boost Fat Burning Over 40, 50 or 60 (I’m 62)

Next Episode - How I Change Exercise for Adrenal Fatigue (women over 40)

More Like This:

3 Workout Studies Every Woman Over 50 Needs to Know

25 Simple Rules for Optimal Health, Wellness & Fitness over 50

Why The Fitness Industry Has Failed Women In Midlife — And What Actually Works

Resources:

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Working harder stops working especially in midlife, when the strategies that once brought success can start working against you.

Is struggle the price of success? It isn't about doing more, pushing harder, or sacrificing your happiness—it may actually be the opposite.

Recovery, curiosity, self-compassion, and intentional growth are the real drivers of lasting health and high performance, especially for women in midlife. If you've been wondering why your old "push through it" mindset isn't delivering the results it once did, this conversation offers a refreshing new perspective.

Discover why working harder stops working, and how embracing the way of excellence can help you age powerfully, train smarter, and thrive in every area of your life.

Brad Stulberg is a researcher, performance coach, and best-selling author who helps people pursue sustainable excellence without sacrificing their well-being. He is the author of The Way of Excellence, The Practice of Groundedness, and Master of Change, and co-author of Peak Performance. Brad regularly writes for The New York Times, and his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and other leading publications. He also co-hosts the podcast Excellence, Actually and serves on the faculty at the University of Michigan. Through his work, Brad teaches practical strategies for achieving lasting success with purpose, resilience, and balance.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

[00:10:05] Why are so many people afraid to pursue excellence—is it fear of failure or fear of how hard the journey will be?

[00:13:42] Many women have succeeded by pushing harder and doing more. What's the biggest mindset shift when that approach stops working in midlife?

[00:19:41] How do you distinguish between lowering your standards and creating a healthier definition of excellence as you age?

[00:24:54] What advice would you give a woman whose body no longer responds the way it used to and who feels like she's losing part of her identity?

[00:45:07] If strength training is the physical practice of resilience, what's the psychological equivalent that helps us stay strong through life's changes?

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