ROPHO — Lifestyle & Living Well in Your Sixties 

2025 has been a year of ups and downs, as most years tend to be. 

Some weeks felt organised, meaningful, and even productive. 

Others… well… let’s just say “planned” wasn’t the word I’d use. 

For ROPHO, the year ahead excites me. 

I’m looking forward to many hours researching, writing, learning, and hopefully helping others like me, people in later life still trying to get this balance thing right. 

In my business life my earliest mentor and the person I learnt the most from had many wise sayings (his words) this one was one of his favourites, which he repeated consistently. 

Plan, plan, then plan some more. 

But in my personal life? 

Let’s just say I’m more fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants than I’d like to admit. 

I tend to “go with the flow,” do whatever my wife wants (although she may strongly object to that description!). 

I’m either all in on work or disappear from the world, 

or all in on life and let everything else slip. 

Sixty-something years in, I’m better, definitely better, 

but there is massive room for improvement. 

And that’s part of the purpose of ROPHO: 

Not teaching perfection. 

Not preaching. 

But exploring life balances together, openly, honestly, with humour and grace. 

Review of 2025 Personal Life 

The good – a special trip to Marmaris Turkey for my wife’s twin sisters 60^th Birthday, neither are experienced traveller’s, it was in fact one of her sister’s first overseas holiday for 30 years. It was amazing I have not laughed as much for a very long time, whether it was a boat trip or a shopping expedition, it was hilarious. 

Our granddaughter’s 21^st Birthday party (How did that happen?) 

Theatre trip Tina the musical with daughter and granddaughter, much better than expected. 

Family trips, meals, etc. 

This list isn’t exhaustive just list the things you had fun doing big and small memories made. 

Creating a Personal Plan That Fits Later Life 

Business plans I can do in my sleep. 

Personal plans? Never really done one written down, always in my head. 

 So, this year I thought I would give it a go (currently working on changing my business plan guide into an easy to understand ebook. Free to subscribers) 

But being older requires a different style of planning — flexible, compassionate, human. 

Life comes with surprises, health considerations, energy levels that change week to week, family needs, and moments that matter more than schedules. 

So rather than a rigid life calendar, I’m building a Living Personal Plan for 2026. 

A plan built around what really matters: 

Time 

Connection 

Health 

Joy 

Curiosity 

Adventure 

Rest 

Let’s start with what’s already on the horizon. 

Things We Already Have Planned 

Holidays 

Relaxation. Adventure. Warm evenings. New food. Bare feet on warm sand. 

As we get older, time away feels even more precious, it resets the soul. 

We have a big one booked, Thailand, December 2026. 

It was postponed due to our daughter’s cancer diagnosis, but it’s still there waiting for us. 

We chose Thailand because: 

• We have explored a lot of Europe and some Caribbean Islands, we wanted to sample a part of Asia at this time of our life. 

• The mix of beaches, culture, food & scenery is perfect 

• Our kids loved it and recommended it 

• A blend of lazy pool days + exploring temples & markets sounds ideal 

We’ll also look at a European break mid-year (April–June) 

Plus, some weekend breaks, just enough to keep the joy flowing. 

Having something to look forward to matters, psychologically much more than we admit. 

Most importantly, future memories in the making. 

Special Occasions 

• Wedding anniversaries 

• Significant birthdays 

• Family gatherings 

• And for many of us, grandchild milestones, we are blessed, we have six with another due in May. 

These are anchors in the year, events that remind us why life balance is worth improving. 

Health Appointments 

We can’t ignore this part of ageing. 

I have an annual pacemaker pacing clinic appointment, non-negotiable. 

Yours may be check-ups, screenings, routine tests, physio, yearly MOT’s for the body. 

Let’s acknowledge them, not dread them. 

Health isn’t a background detail anymore; it’s the secret to longevity as I am regularly reminded by our loving daughters. 

So… Weekly or Monthly Plans? 

Here’s the tricky question I’m sitting with: 

Do I plan monthly for flexibility… 

or weekly for accountability? 

Because, confession time, I have tried a weekly plan. 

And it never goes how I imagine. 

(If you relate, you’re in the right place.) 

In my next post, I’ll break down my weekly plan, honestly, not perfectly, and how I’m adapting it for a healthier, happier 2026. 

A plan that includes: 

• Time with my wife (real time, not “in the same room scrolling” time) 

• Personal projects & hobbies 

• Exercise or movement 

• Social connection 

• Business/ROPHO creativity 

• Rest 

• “No guilt” days 

Because balance isn’t 50/50. 

It’s knowing when to swing one way, and when to swing back. 

Before the next post… 

Here are 3 gentle reflection questions for you: 

🖊 What do you already have booked in 2026 that excites you? 

🖊 Which personal habits slipped this year, and how could you restart them lightly? 

🖊 What one simple change would make your life feel just a little more balanced? 

Not 20 changes. 

Just one. 

Small improvements stick. 

Big overhauls rarely survive February. 

Coming next: 

“My Weekly Plan That Rarely Works — And How I’m Rebuilding It for a Balanced 2026” 

It will include: 

📅 A printable weekly template 

❤️ Relationship & family time blocks 

🏃 Movement/health slots 

🎨 Hobbies & creativity 

💼 ROPHO/business work time 

😌 Rest, reflection, reset 

You’re not alone in balancing work, life, love, health, purpose and time. 

Most of us in our sixties are still figuring it out — and that’s okay. 

We figure it out together.