Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about health—not in the “New Year’s resolution, all-or-nothing” kind of way, but in a more grounded, sustainable sense. I’ve realised that feeling good (and staying that way) isn’t about overhauling your life overnight. It’s about small, consistent changes. That’s where I thought about the “Four Pillars of Health”

For me, these four pillars are:

Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, and Stress Management

I’m treating them like the foundation of a healthier, more balanced life. If even one is shaky, everything else feels a bit off. So I’ve started an experiment: using habit tracking as a way to gently build each pillar, one brick at a time.

Why Habit Tracking?

I’m not aiming for perfection, just small manageable progress. A simple checklist or daily log helps me recognise patterns—what’s working, what needs adjusting, and when I’m being too hard on myself.

It also makes progress visible, even when the results aren’t obvious yet. Ate a home-cooked meal? Check. Went for a short walk? Check. Got to bed before midnight? Check. Took five minutes to breathe before tackling emails? Big check.

My Approach

Here’s how I’m tackling each pillar:

1. Nutrition: No crash diets, no “off-limits” lists. I’m focusing on nourishing meals, more fiber, and eating with intention. It’s less about restriction, more about making choices that leave me feeling energised, plus water – who knew drinking a little bit more each day would make you feel a bit more with it?

2. Exercise: I’m embracing movement in any form—stretching, walking, short workouts. The key is consistency, not intensity. Some days it’s 10 minutes, and that’s enough. I’m finding short 15 minute walks on my walking pad after each meal is working a treat.

3. Sleep: This one’s tough, but I’m trying to set a bedtime routine that helps me wind down—less screen time, more listening to a podcast whilst I have my light mask on

4. Stress: This is the sneakiest pillar. I’ve started building in little “stress check-ins” throughout the day. A few deep breaths. A short walk. Sometimes, just noticing I’m stressed is enough to ease it a little.

What I’m Learning

Small wins matter. They add up faster than I expected. Tracking helps me stay honest—and gives me grace on tough days. Balance looks different every week, and that’s okay. I’m a very visual person so seeing the stats works for me, I use my Fitbit and log my food and water, nothing too much. More importantly, I’m going on how I feel and not what a scale says.

Join Me?

If you’re also trying to build healthier habits—or just want to feel a bit more grounded—I’d love to hear from you. What are your personal pillars? Do you track habits? What’s worked (or totally flopped) for you?

Let’s figure this out together

Gemma x