23rd March 2026

Newsletter Monday

Hello Reader,

There’s an article trending this morning that I couldn’t resist clicking on.

I suppose that’s exactly why it’s trending 😆

​How long should you be able to stand on one leg for your age.​

I’ve no doubt many of you would struggle to resist that either.

It’s so simple.

So measurable.

And we’re all quietly comparing ourselves to where we should be, even when we wish we wouldn’t.

But it reminded me of a real-life test I did a few days ago.

A stone launched itself into my wellie. The damn thing was sharp.

I had no wall. No fence. Nothing to hold onto.

I was getting that stone out come hell or high water.

The only challenge was not putting my sock straight into the mud.

I managed it.

Looked at my husband and said,

“this is where the rubber meets the road with all my training.”

Slightly smug.

Although… I am 47, not 77, so perhaps not that much to celebrate.

What the research shows.

This article is based on some research looking at balance — specifically how long people can stand on one leg.

It shows what you’d expect:

• balance declines with age
• there’s a more noticeable drop after about 65

There’s also other observational research suggesting that people in later life who can’t manage 10 seconds on one leg have a higher risk of dying over the next decade.

And this is where it needs a bit of context.

Because this is observational. 👀

It doesn’t mean:

It means:

They’re more likely to have:

• lower muscle mass
• less activity
• more underlying health issues

Balance is acting as a marker, not a crystal ball.

The leap from that research to:

…is where things get a bit shaky.

Those numbers are averages.

Not diagnostic cut-offs.

Not something we’re using clinically.

But they’re presented with just enough precision to make you pause and think:

Now I will give them this.

It worked.

I clicked it.

You probably would too. I bet you want to know how you compare.

The bigger picture.

We’ve turned everything into a test.

Step counts.

Sleep scores.

Biological age.

And now… flamingo standing.

But if we strip it back, there is something useful here.

Balance reflects how your body is functioning.

Strength.

Coordination.

Confidence in movement.

And yes — you can train it directly if you want to.

Stand on one leg.

Do some yoga.

Brush your teeth on one leg (swap sides halfway through — even things up).

All perfectly reasonable.

But here’s the bit that often gets missed.

Balance also improves as a by-product of getting stronger.

Stronger legs.

Better control.

More time spent moving your body in slightly challenging ways.

You don’t have to turn it into a separate project unless you want to.

And in reality, the test isn’t:

It’s:

Can you:

• step over something uneven
• catch yourself if you trip
• stand on one leg long enough to deal with a rogue stone in your wellie

hat’s where it actually matters.
​

So if you try the flamingo test today, go ahead.

Have a bit of fun with it.

Maybe even get competitive.

But don’t read too much into the number.

If you’re moving regularly, building strength, and using your body in the real world…

You’re already doing the work that keeps that sock out of the mud.