What’s still working in 2025
Reflecting on my focus on health for 2025 and how it’s all going
Hi friends,
How are you doing? I am currently on my sofa, in a bra and shorts, curtains closed and a fan on full blast.
It is a toasty 30 degrees in our top floor flat and I’ve already enjoyed the air con of two coffee shops today (I'm wondering how much money I’d need to save to spend my summer coffee shop hopping…).
Aside from the melting, I’m feeling really good - so good that it’s prompted me to reflect on what I wrote about at the start of the year and how things are going, six months in.
What I wanted to focus on in 2025
If you read that post back in January, you’ll remember I discussed wanting to focus on my health. Specifically I wanted to feel better; hopefully get sick a little less and continue trouble-shooting my period-related issues (lots of pain both on and in-between my periods).
I shared some things I was doing, including increasing activity levels, reducing screen time, eating more anti-inflammatory foods and working with my doctor on the period-related stuff.
How it’s going
This time last year, I had already taken some sick days and had experienced numerous cold/flu-y type things.
So far this year, I’ve had two colds (one right at the start of the year, the second after a weekend travelling). Both colds lasted no more than three days and were super mild, with no sick days needed.
This could be down to lots of things, including dumb luck, but looking back I can’t help but think how well I’ve felt this year compared to 2024.
With my period issues, back in Jan I mentioned being on prescribed painkillers which certainly helped, but I was still experiencing a lot of in-between period symptoms and my doctor decided the best step forward would be to go on birth control continuously for three-month chunks of time.
I’m coming to the end of my first three-month chunk and wow - not having the monthly rollercoaster of pain, fatigue and random bleeding has been pretty amazing.
Having learnt more about endometriosis, I know there is division out there about using birth control as treatment.
Again, I do not have a diagnosis so can’t be sure it is what I have anyway, but whatever my issue is - this seems to be working for me at the moment and I will take that.
My time on social media has shifted, but I would say my screen time is still down overall. I’m still not on Instagram very much and that feels good right now - I just don’t feel I have a lot to say in that space at the moment.
Instead, my most active platform is LinkedIn.
Mostly because, after my promotion in May, I realised my new role would benefit from me becoming a LinkedIn gal. So it’s become part of my weekly work ‘to-dos’ to post and engage on there, and I’m meeting some amazing ‘connections’ in the process.
What’s still working
Strolling breaks instead of scrolling breaks
A five minute walk on my walking pad instead of a five minute doomscroll when I need a break at work is serving both my mental health and my physical health still.
I’m pleased the habit has stuck and that the investment into the walking pad is paying off.
Reformer Pilates
I’m still wincing at the cost of these classes, but dammit - they make me feel good. I’m seeing so much progress compared to when I did mat Pilates and genuinely feel stronger.
I’ve added more exercise to my weekly routine too, including an at-home dance workout and an at-home strength workout. I feel like I’ve found things I do enjoy, which makes it all a little easier.
I think as I head closer and closer towards 40, I’m just recognising that health is a gift, so anything I can do to preserve mine is worth the effort.
I will also say that it has taken about six months of consistency for me to feel a real difference in my fitness, and that is what is now keeping me motivated.
Having to persevere for so long without feeling the impact is hard.
Less time on Instagram
I share on Instagram stories very occasionally, but as I mentioned before, I just don’t feel I have too much to say.
I wonder if my new role at work has impacted this too - it requires more ‘people-ing’ than my previous role. I’m speaking to new people more, setting up meetings and calls, I’m ‘on’ quite a lot.
So when the day is done and I turn back to my home-life, my introverted soul just wants a bit of quiet, not to share what I’m doing with Instagram.
Apparently, my introverted soul doesn’t mind sharing on Substack - but then this is a slower-paced platform and feels… different.
What’s changed
The way I’m eating
I was trying a more anti-inflammatory diet to help with the period-issues, but since going on birth control, I’ve relaxed this quite a bit.
I’m still considered in what I eat, tuning in to what leaves me feeling good and what makes me feel like I’ve been run over by a truck, but I’m less precious about avoiding gluten or red meat when I really want it.
My body shape
Despite the relaxation on ‘inflammatory’ foods, my diet has generally had small tweaks made this year, all tweaks that have felt good and non-restrictive.
This, combined with increasing my activity levels has had an impact on my body shape, making it smaller (I now can’t wear certain trousers without a belt).
The feelings that have come along with this have been interesting. Talking to my partner Dan recently, I said the phrase “I feel like I’m coming back to me.” which is not how I thought I’d feel.
But when I look back, I realise that over covid my body changed because I was unwell. I had covid three times, with one of those times leading to fatigue and joint pain.
I couldn’t go for walks because I would be so wiped out. I comfort ate because of that. I also ate out of boredom, of course (didn’t we all?).
I embraced my changing body though and never resented it. I bought new clothes to fit its bigger size and was happy mentally with it all.
I fully believe in the idea of health at every size, but the harsh truth was that, for me, that size was not a healthy place to be in. The constant colds, fatigue and pain told me that.
My body is not the same now as it was before covid (it never will be) but as I feel more energetic, fitter and less sick, I feel glints of who I was before covid.
Even silly things like having my longer hair back after cutting it short in 2021 has made a difference - it’s quite amazing how our identity shifts and changes with our appearance.
I fear I’ve rambled a little here, but the crux of the message is this: My hope for this year was to feel better, and I do.
What feels most amazing to me is that I’ve made these changes slowly and gently. There have been no strict regimes and zero restriction to get me to a place where I feel healthier.
Our bodies are organic and change constantly, this bout of feeling better may be a blip - who knows.
Sometimes we can only live in the now and put one foot in front of the other, doing the things that make you feel good. And that’s what I’ll continue doing.
If you had a focus for 2025, how is it going? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, take care.
Kat x
Completely loved reading this Kat, and I absolutely LOVE that you're doing so well. Our health really is so precious. I've been similarly trying to look after mine, due to period issues and post-COVID fatigue, and I think I'm finally getting somewhere! God bless an extra walk, Reformer Pilates and (for me) acupuncture!