The secret to ageing well isn’t just exercise. On Thursday, I celebrate another birthday, and while the number goes up each year, I still feel young. I’ve realised that staying young isn’t only about exercising or eating well. It’s also about keeping your mind engaged, staying curious, and always planning something to look forward to.

As a personal trainer, fitness will always be a huge part of my life. Exercise keeps our bodies strong, supports heart health, improves balance, and even benefits our brains. But, over the years I’ve learnt something important: don’t let fitness be your only hobby.

Life has a way of changing. An injury, illness, retirement, or simply ageing may mean you can’t exercise the way you once did. That’s why it’s so important to develop other interests now. Start or continue activities that challenge your mind, bring you joy, and give you purpose beyond the gym.

One of my favourite hobbies is baking. My friends know I love making sweet treats, but they also know I can make a pretty mean macaroni and cheese! I enjoy trying new recipes, learning different techniques, and sharing food with the people I love. It’s relaxing, creative, and always gives me something new to master.

I also love to travel. Every destination teaches me something, whether it’s experiencing another culture, tasting local food, or seeing the world from a different perspective. Travel also has a way of teaching life lessons you never expect. Sometimes those lessons come from getting lost, trying unfamiliar foods, or even getting ripped off for a tourist photo.

Reading is another passion of mine because every book offers the chance to learn something new. And yes, I even enjoy taking on fitness challenges. They remind me that growth happens when we’re willing to step outside your comfort zone.

Studies have shown that keeping our minds active may help support memory, cognitive function, and emotional wellbeing as we age. Learning a new skill, solving problems, cooking, gardening, volunteering, playing an instrument, or even taking a class all give our brains a healthy workout.

If you’ve spent years focused on work or raising a family, maybe now is the time to ask yourself, What have I always wanted to try? Maybe it’s pottery, photography, learning another language, dancing, or joining a book club. The possibilities are endless, and it’s never too late to begin.

As I celebrate another birthday this week, I’m grateful not just for another year of life, but for the opportunity to keep growing. I hope that years from now I’ll still be reading, travelling, baking, exercising, and saying yes to new experiences.

So here’s my birthday challenge to you: choose one hobby that excites you and engage and enhance it for the remainder of this year. Not because you’re getting older, but because you’re still growing.

Take care of your body through movement, but don’t forget to exercise your mind too.

Stay Mindful & B-Active For Life!

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for B. ActiveForLife on Facebook