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

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.

My Guest:

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.

Smarter Training Changes Everything and Working Harder Stops Working After 50

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?
  
  

Excellence Isn’t About Suffering—It’s About Sustainable Performance

• Excellence isn’t reserved for elite athletes—it applies to everyday life, parenting, work, health, and relationships.
• The healthiest definition of excellence is becoming better instead of chasing perfection.
• High performance is built through consistency, purpose, and values—not constant sacrifice.
• Excellence should improve your quality of life instead of consuming it.

Joy Is a Competitive Advantage

• Having fun isn’t the opposite of discipline—it enhances it.
• The highest performers learn to enjoy the process while still working hard.
• Intensity and joy can exist at the same time.

Fear of Failure Keeps More Women Stuck Than Failure Itself

• Adults often lose that curiosity because they’re worried about judgment.
• Most worthwhile achievements require stepping into uncertainty.
  
  

Recovery Becomes Your Superpower When Working Harder Stops Working 

Big Goals Become Achievable When They’re Broken Into Small Steps

• Overwhelming goals create paralysis.
• Success comes from focusing on today’s small action instead of tomorrow’s finish line.
• Consistency matters more than intensity.
• Every large accomplishment is simply many small wins repeated over time.

Rest Is a Skill That Requires Discipline 

• Rest requires just as much discipline as training.
• Elite performers intentionally schedule recovery.
• Recovery isn’t earned—it is required.
• Consistent renewal prevents burnout and improves longevity.

Stress + Recovery = Adaptation

• This applies to:
  • • Muscle growth
    • Brain performance
    • Creativity
    • Relationships
    • Emotional resilience
    • Business performance
• Without recovery:
  • • Progress stalls.
    • Performance declines.
    • Burnout becomes inevitable.

Why the Flipping 50 Approach Works

• Rather than encouraging women to:
  • • Exercise longer
    • Train harder
    • Push through exhaustion
• The goal is to:
  • • Apply the right amount of stress.
    • Allow adequate recovery.
    • Build sustainable fitness habits.
    • Many women initially worry that doing less means they’ll lose progress.
      
      

Connect with Andy:

• Book – The Way of Excellence 
• Instagram – @bradstulberg