Create healthier habits

Clarisse has a vivid way of describing her journey. “It’s growing,” she says. “Like a caterpillar building up a cocoon, and at the end, just emerging. I am still to fully become a butterfly, but I’m loving myself more and more and finding myself closer and closer.”

When I talk about health, I’m never just talking about gym sessions, step counts, or salads. I’m talking about the deep stuff – our connections to country; to family and Elders to stories, how we keep our spirits steady, our minds clear, and our bodies strong.

As the mornings cool and routines change, autumn is a great time to reset healthy habits and create a routine that helps you feel your best. Rather than relying on willpower, small, consistent behaviour changes are what create habits that stick.

Welcome to Harmony Week, a celebration of the many cultures that make our communities stronger, healthier, and more connected.

When we participate in one another’s traditions, even in small ways, something shifts. We feel welcomed. We feel curious. We feel connected. And connection is not just a social nicety; it’s an important part of our wellbeing.

When Samater reflects on his health before joining the My health for life initiative, he puts it simply: “I did not know anything. Now I know everything.”

For 46-year-old Samater, who lives on Brisbane’s southside and is originally from Ethiopia, culture and community are not just part of his identity, they are part of his health journey too.

Have you ever promised yourself at the start of January that this would be the year you lost weight, moved more, or overhauled your lifestyle, only to feel guilty a few weeks later when life gets in the way? If so, you’re not alone.