You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Well

I was having brunch with a friend yesterday, and we got into one of those chats that lingers. She brought up something I’ve felt for years, especially in the wellness and longevity world:

The pressure to be perfect.

Especially for someone like me - Type A and a high performer.

You know the vibe.

Wake up at 5am to begin the two-hour morning routine:
Ice bath.
Sauna.
Red light.
Protein tracking.
Glucose monitoring.
Meditation.
Breath-work.
Weight Train.

And somehow still look flawless while doing it. And all of this on top of your job, family and friends.

And then there’s me, showing up to tell you about toxins in your mattress, mould in your bathroom, your sleep space being a chemical soup and that your air fryer might be releasing endocrine disruptors.

But I’m not here to add more pressure. I’m not perfect either.

Sometimes I eat the crisps (yes, with seed oils). Sometimes I wear clothes made of synthetic fibres. I use the hand soap in a public toilet, even though I know it’s full of chemicals.

The difference? I know. And I choose.

That awareness, that ownership is the shift.

Before, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Like most people, I fell for what Darin Olien calls 'fatal conveniences', those everyday comforts and products that seem harmless but are quietly undermining our health.

Things like 'fresh' scented laundry detergent, non-stick pans, aerosal deodrants and more.

They’re convenient. They’re everywhere. And they’re marketed as safe.

But once you learn what’s actually in them… it’s hard to unsee.

So no, I don’t need you to be perfect. But I do want you to be awake.

Because when you understand the trade-offs, you get to decide.

Instead of unknowingly handing over your health to companies who don’t have your best interest at heart.

That’s what happened for me after I got unwell. If you don't know my story you can check it out here.

I didn’t overhaul my life overnight. I just got curious. I started asking questions.

And eventually, I started building a version of wellness that worked for me.... one that fits my body, my environment, my values, my reality.

It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing what you can, from a place of informed choice. This is what I want to give you the awareness so you can make your own decision and choice.

And here’s the other thing we talked about at brunch..

Even in the world of wellness, there’s a subtle pressure to constantly optimise. Push. Track. Hack. Perform.

I love everything to do with biohacking, longevity and the wellness movement. I live and breathe it and it learning about new things lights me up.

But there’s also a shadow to it: the sense that you’re never doing enough. That even your self-care needs to be productive.

It’s a lot of yang. Not enough yin.

Sometimes, we just need to remember the basics:

Clean water.
Clean air.
Good food.
Good Sleep.
A walk in the park.
A quiet moment with yourself.

It’s not always about the next protocol.

Because real wellness is not a never-ending checklist. It’s a relationship, with your body, your space, and your choices.

So if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the things you 'should' be doing, just breathe. You don’t need to do everything. You just need to take your power back, one decision at a time.

Let the awareness be enough. Let that be your wellness practice.

And if you’re choosing the pint of ice cream today?

Eat it with joy.

But now you know, you decide and next time, you might choose differently. That’s what matters. The informed choice is in your hands and noone elses.