Looking after your health doesn’t need to be complicated, but it can feel that way when you’re trying to keep up with everything at once. There’s food, sleep, exercise, stress, check-ups, and all the little things you know you should be doing but never quite get to. The truth is, you don’t have to overhaul your life to stay well. You just need to know what actually matters and do a few things properly, not perfectly.
Understand your health
Start off by figuring out what’s really going on with your body, and learn to understand your health. Instead of just guessing, get blood tests once a year so you can track the different levels and spot any changes. Things like thyroid tests, vitamin levels, iron levels etc can all be done with a quick blood test and easily fixed if something isn't right. Check your blood pressure every so often, most GP surgeries have blood pressure machines in the waiting room you can go in and use without an appointment. A really useful thing to do is learn what normal feels like for you, if you often feel tired, dizzy or foggy then don’t brush it off. Keep a short note on your phone of any recurring symptoms so you can talk about them properly at your next appointment. It can be worth buying a Fitbit or Apple Watch which track your sleep, heart rare and lots of other things. It's all good data that lets you know if anything unusual happens that's worth a closer look.
Go to the doctor when you should
If something feels off, book the appointment, don’t wait until it’s unbearable. Most GPs now offer phone or video consultations, so you don’t always have to sit in a waiting room. The Labour government has very recently (as of mid 2025) changed the system for booking GP appointments for the better. We all know the old system which involved having to phone up at 8am on the dot, and rush to get into the phone queue and battle for appointments. Now all doctors surgeries have to give the option to book online and ahead of time, so if you have something that can wait for a few days you don't have to fight the queues for an on the day app. You can also ask your doctor for practical advice instead of just medication, like reviewing your diet if you’re getting more frequent colds or therapy for your mental health.
Follow through
Knowing what to do isn’t the same as actually doing it. Once you’ve been told what might help, make a plan you can realistically stick to. Prep a few healthy lunches on Sunday so you don’t end up skipping meals midweek. Set a recurring reminder for bedtime instead of scrolling till midnight. If you know you need to lose weight, find a reputable online pharmacy and consider buying a GLP 1 medication or weight loss supplement to help your journey. Eat real food, move every day even if it’s just a walk, sleep enough, and stay curious about what your body’s trying to tell you. The rest tends to fall into place when those basics are looked after.
