Womens Health WeeK
Maybe We Need to Think About Our Health Differently
For Women’s Health Week, I initially found myself doing what I usually do when planning content, looking up trending reel ideas, and ways to condense something meaningful into 10 or 15 seconds. And then I thought, what am I doing?
There are so many important conversations about women’s health that a reel simply can’t portray. We’re also surrounded by messages about what we need to be healthier. A supplement. A diet. A course. A program. A protocol. Some of these things can absolutely help. But somewhere along the way, I think we’ve made health far more complicated than it needs to be, particularly for women, who are so often given the message that there is something more we should be doing, changing or fixing.
So instead, I wanted to step back and think about what really influences our health. The basics matter!
When we look at Australian health data, mental health, cancer, persistent pain, musculoskeletal conditions, cardiovascular and metabolic health, respiratory disease and dementia all significantly affect women. Around one-third of the disease burden experienced by Australian women is attributable to modifiable risk factors. That doesn’t mean illness is our fault or that everything can be prevented through lifestyle. Genetics, biology, environment, circumstances and access to healthcare all matter. But there are things we can influence. Movement, strength, nutrition, sleep, stress, relationships, and connection aren’t particularly exciting, but they are some of the biggest levers we have to impact our health. With more health information at our fingertips than ever, it’s easy to become distracted by the final 5%. The perfect supplement, diet, exercise protocol or latest health trend, while missing the bigger picture.
Health is bigger than treatment. Modern medicine is extraordinary, and sometimes treatment is exactly what we need. But long-term health rarely comes down to one intervention. A practitioner can treat, guide, educate and support us, but ultimately we remain active participants in our own health. I think there is something empowering about that. Not blame. Not believing we can control everything. Just recognising our own agency and asking: what can I influence?
Personally, I’ve noticed that I feel healthiest when my mind and nervous system feel settled and I’m doing more of the things that fill my cup rather than drain it. Moving because it feels good. Being outside. Eating nourishing food. Spending time with people I love. Resting. Feeling connected. There is something powerful in making choices from that place, nourishment rather than restriction, self-respect rather than criticism.
Sometimes we need external support. And sometimes meaningful change comes from recognising our own capacity to adapt, make changes and care for ourselves. Taking ownership of our health. Health isn’t built in a 30-day challenge, one perfect month, one workout, supplement or treatment. It’s built through what we do repeatedly over years. And those things need to fit our actual lives. Our needs change. Our capacity changes. Our season of life changes. Maybe taking ownership of our health isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about understanding what matters, recognising what we can influence and asking for support when we need it.
In a culture constantly telling women they need more, perhaps health doesn’t always require more. Maybe it needs less noise and comparison, and more trust, consistency, connection, movement, rest and nourishment.
So perhaps this Women’s Health Week is simply an opportunity to ask ourselves:
What matters most to my health?
What can I influence?
Where do I need support?
And what can I realistically sustain?
