What lessons I've learnt in 2024
Saturday, 23 November 2024
As we roll into the busiest time of the year, here's a quick reminder: make sure you’ve got your meds sorted before heading off on holiday! And if you’re scratching your head about your COVID booster status, give us a shout—we’re here to help!
It’s been a whirlwind of a year here at the pharmacy, and I’ve had a few things that ived learned in 2024 that I thought I’d share.
The Donald Trump election, and Your Health
We were told the election would be close—it wasn’t. This has highlighted to me the importance of the sources of our information and the value of diversity. Be wary of the information sources and the information bubble you might be in—this applies to health as much as politics.
Stop me if you’ve seen this before:
- Your doctor prescribes you a new medicine.
- You Google it.
- You find 20 horror stories.
- You hesitate to take the medicine.
- When you do, any slight discomfort feels like proof of the side effects.
But here’s the thing—sometimes that’s not the medicine; it’s confirmation bias. Your brain sees what it expects to see. So, take a breath, trust your pharmacist, and ask us questions if you’re unsure. We’re here to separate the facts from the fear.
The Year I Didn’t Buy Stuff (Well, Almost)
One of my resolutions for 2024 was not to make any new purchases for the year. I could replace things that were broken or lost, but not new things ( for example I bought a lot of golf balls in 2024 as I kept losing them in the rough… oh the pain of learning a new hobby!) I haven’t been perfect, but I’ve become more conscious of what’s tempting me.
As we enter Black Friday and the gift-buying season, what’s become apparent is that social media is pure advertising designed to tempt us. Your email inbox is full of ads sending you deals to lure you in. Social media algorithms are working overtime to make you think you need that 5th quarter-zip sweater (a dad-wear essential - its 70% off retail price but identical to the other four in your wardrobe).
Here’s my tip: pause before you buy. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” Spoiler alert: you probably don’t.
Diet Real Talk: Sustainability is Key
After experimenting with a glucose monitor, I’ve learned an important truth about diets: it’s not about following the latest trend or jumping on the newest "miracle" plan. The best diet is the one you can maintain —the one that fits seamlessly into your life without making you feel deprived or stressed.
For me, that’s intermittent fasting. You can tailor it to suit your lifestyle—whether it’s skipping breakfast if you’re not a morning person or adjusting your eating window to enjoy dinner with friends. For me, eating between 10 am and 6 pm gives my body a solid 16 hours to rest and reset without the stress of obsessing over every meal.
Over time, I’ve noticed fewer cravings as fasting helps regulate hunger hormones like ghrelin, steadier energy levels thanks to more stable blood sugar, and a big reduction in mindless snacking. It’s an approach that’s easy for me to stick with—and I stick with it on most days - but If someone is paying for a night out, I’m not saying no!
The Attention Economy and Information Overload
If we put all this together, the attention economy we are currently in—created via the monetisation of social media (how many clicks can I get with this headline?)—is really messing with us. We now have too many opinions on every matter, all more readily available through social media, podcasts, and even some news outlets, which pump out more opinion pieces than actual journalism.
These opinions are competing for clicks, not to inform us but to provoke us and spark a reaction. It’s not just about having opinions anymore; it’s about amplifying them to the point where we only see one side of the story. Algorithms love feeding us the same views we already have, locking us in echo chambers and keeping us from seeing the bigger picture.
Take the news du jour—the Treaty Principles Bill. My take is this: this is only relevant because the National Party has made it relevant due to their lust for power. This proposal was only guaranteed support for the first reading, so it will never pass. It’s a massive waste of time and taxpayers' money.
But worse than this - it’s making some of us extremely angry and others happy. This means it’s polarising us, and someone is using this to manipulate our emotions and grab our attention. It’s cheap politics for personal gain—and I hate it. Booooo.
Now, you might read the above and think I’m a genius, or conversely, you might think I’m a muppet. But in reality, I’m a community pharmacist with 25 years’ experience in medicines whose goal in life is making our community healthier— I’m not a Treaty of Waitangi expert. Listen to my opinions on the health and wellbeing for you and your family. You shouldn’t listen to me about the Treaty and think I know what I’m talking about. (Sidebar: An opinion I have I’m something else I’m qualified to talk about… Cam Roigard and Wallace Sititi are INCREDIBLE! They are the Sun that the rest of the All Blacks will revolve around for the next 10 years. The rest of the rugby world should be very very scared!!)
Feeling Overwhelmed by All the Noise?
Take a break—much like the diet that works best for me. Try a news and social media fast. Do these three things instead:
- Spend time with people who matter.
- Get outside for a walk or jog.
- Reflect on what’s driving your emotions.
Sometimes stepping back gives you the clarity to see what’s important and what’s just noise.
We’re not losing trust in people or institutions—it’s that sometimes we’re trusting the wrong sources. In a world full of opinions and headlines designed to manipulate, always try to remember -facts over feelings.
So, as we wrap up 2024, remember: pause, reflect, and focus on what truly matters—your health, your happiness, and the people around you.
As always please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if there’s anything here that’s nabbed your attention (lol) - pop on in for a chat!
Andy and the team at the Roslyn Pharmacy
