To me, being healthy isn’t about going hardcore on exercise, counting every calorie I put in my body, or giving up the things I enjoy. Sure, there are habits I indulge in that might be better off left behind, but I haven’t yet—and might never. In those instances, I’ve made efforts to mitigate the impact, both immediate and future. I’m no paragon of virtue; the gym isn’t my thing, and I find pleasure in beer and cigarettes.

Over the years, I’ve encountered health concerns that led me to seek medical advice. More often than not, I left those appointments with misdiagnoses or without any clear answers. Issues that were once minor nuisances escalated, one nearly to the point where I feared for my life or faced the prospect of significant disability. Despite believing I was mostly making the right health decisions, the problem persisted. I was convinced that returning to a doctor would only result in a never-ending cycle of prescriptions or antidepressants. That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands, diving deeper into what I was—or wasn’t—doing for my body.

It’s been about 10 years since I began to seriously focus on understanding my health and identifying what truly benefits me. In that time, others have noticed the improvements and frequently asked about my methods. Given that these strategies have evolved, sometimes I even need a reminder of what exactly is making the difference. I’ve experienced successes with many approaches, often with unexpectedly positive outcomes, while some attempts did nothing or had negative impacts.

I am not a doctor, I am a musician and I’m not suggesting that medical professionals are unnecessary or lack expertise. In my experience, most doctors genuinely strive to provide the best care for their patients. However, no single individual can know everything. You’re the one who lives with yourself 24/7, the only one who can truly gauge how you feel day in and day out. By paying close attention to the details of your daily life—what you eat and drink, where you spend your time, and noting any changes—you might begin to piece together the puzzle. This process can help you identify what enhances your well-being and what detracts from it.