For All Life's Adventures

Should you start a YouTube channel if you are over 55? 

Only you can answer that question, but I want to share the satisfaction of having a small YouTube channel, even though it doesn’t receive many views. However, the YouTube channel offers me so much more than just numbers.

This blog will highlight five benefits I’ve gained from this unique hobby as a middle-aged man. I want to inspire others to explore their creative side.

The first of the five benefits I would highlight is…

Satisfaction in Completing Something

It feels strange to be called a YouTuber. The term somewhat bothers me as someone over 55 and beyond mid-life. 

However, it shouldn’t because, technically, that’s what I do as a hobby, and I genuinely enjoy it. I find the entire processvery satisfying—thinking up an idea, writing and reflecting on it, filming the video, and then piecing everything together.When I look back at the final product, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in saying,

“Wow, I created that… I completed that video.”

For someone of my generation, who were already adult when the internet boom occurred, and the technology was still frustratingly slow and, frankly, subpar, the idea of making videos seemed reserved for the tech-savvy enthusiasts. These individuals were willing to invest their time and effort into learning all the necessary components. 

Back then, I could not do that; I lacked time, ability, and concentration and was always busy with work.

And that is a key point here…

In the line of work I have done for most of my life, I never completed anything substantial. This wasn’t due to a lack of skills but because the work was never-ending. I primarily worked in retail, sales, and management, fields that don’t have a clear endpoint. 

It’s not like designing and building a bridge, curing an illness, or fixing a car. Retail is continuous and challenging. So, please be kind to the people working in retail; you have no idea how tough it can be.

The second advantage of creating this Channel is that it…

Gives Purpose.

Many things in life can give you a sense of purpose, such as family, friends, or hobbies. Activities like having a job or enjoying golf can also motivate you to get up, leave the house, and engage in something meaningful. I have all of these things in my life. I don’t have a dog, and I’m not a golfer, but you understand my point.

Life can often consume you, leaving you exhausted, and activities that once provided purpose can become routine as they integrate into daily life. This led to complacency, and I found its repetitiveness all disheartening.

I wanted to get out more, see new things, and learn more, but the demands of everyday life drained my energy. 

I needed something different—another push, another level—because I felt trapped in my surroundings. My desire waned, my energy dwindled, and my anxiety grew as I gazed out the window at a world that seemed to be passing me by.

Now, I start my mornings with a rough plan for the day. I avoid wasting time on procrastination, as it only feeds my anxiety. 

I don’t allow that feeling to take root.

Instead, I get up, get out, and approach my day with purpose. I strive to create something and achieve my goals, and now, there’s a spring in my step.

I have a purpose.

One of the other benefits of having a YouTube channel is that it provides me with a way to…

Embrace Mindfulness.

After capturing the video footage and gaining insights from my trip, I will then narrate over my clips. Following this, I need to piece everything together to create the story I set out to tell. This is the editing process.

It is much like assembling a jigsaw puzzle without a reference picture—only an image of a storyline that exists as scraps of notes on my phone or floating around in my head.

I can lose myself for hours while piecing together the finished video, and my mind is focused during that process. My surroundings are numbed, and my fingers dance along with excitement as I climax on the completed video.

One important tip is to recognise when enough is enough.

If you don’t draw a line, you risk getting lost in the pursuit of perfection, becoming overly absorbed in the pleasure of mindfulness without ever completing your tasks.

Don’t let yourself be distracted by the allure of mindfulness.

When people ask me about my experiences with the Channel, I usually share two key pieces of advice:

First, JUST START.

Second, FINISH AND POST YOUR VIDEOS.

I came to this realisation after spending months deliberating and getting caught up in the pursuit of “perfecting my editing skills” before I finally decided to set aside my ego and confront the inherent fear of embarrassment we all face— and post my first video.

And you guess what? Nobody watched it.

One of the other benefits, number four, of having a YouTube channel is that it allows you to…

It keeps the brain nimble.

Before I started this video channel, I wrote a blog. 

I wrote a minimum of 1,000 words every day, which helped me form a habit and set a goal for myself. I aimed to write every day for a year. 

Unfortunately, I failed. 

I started in January and reached November without missing a day, but then I missed one, quickly turning into two. Before I knew it, I had stopped writing altogether.

However, while writing, I noticed my brain becoming sharper and my writing improving. That was my perception, but it honestly felt that way. I remember struggling to recall things before I began that writing journey, and by the end of it, I felt confident that my memory had improved. 

Afterwards, I transitioned to developing the YouTube channel as my blog faded. With video editing, I experienced a similar mental stimulation. I also discovered a greater sense of purpose, satisfaction, and inner peace with YouTube, contributing to my improved mental agility. 

I understand that the brain is like a muscle; it needs exercise, and that’s exactly what I am doing with the Channel half the time—exercising my brain.

I was not a good student when I was younger. My mind was constantly distracted by other things. The fifth benefit of having a YouTube Channel is that it drives up curiosity, and it…

It helps me learn new things.

I find it strange that we are taught in a structured way during kindergarten. Then, as we progress through our education into higher grades and possibly college or university, we are expected to learn independently. 

However, many of us stop learning once we leave the academic world. Yes, we receive training in our jobs, often confined to a work cubicle or a similar environment, where we exchange our time and energy for a paycheck.

In essence, we continue to experience a form of education, but it’s structured as a transaction. We have to do this to survive and manage our bills.

Most of us follow this path; I certainly did.

Yet, I have always been a reader, always curious. 

The Channel encourages me to discover new things, consume information, and retain it as best as possible. It pushes me to connect the dots between various scraps of knowledge I’ve gathered and to question my own understanding.

This journey of learning feels endless. Though a video may have a conclusion, the learning itself never truly stops. 

There’s a fascinating challenge in that.

One thing I have learned is that we are more alike than we are different.  

While you may not find the same comfort in having a YouTube channel as I do, it’s perfectly fine.  

However, many of you may discover the advantages I’ve mentioned in your own ways.  

You understand this well, and for that, you inspire me.  

If, on the other hand, YouTube is something you want to explore, I would suggest this:  

START.