With just days left in this year’s Women’s Health Week (7–11 September), Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is urging women to put their health first with the theme, ‘Do it anyway’.
‘Do it anyway’ is a simple message that calls on women to take manageable steps toward looking after their health, even when work, family and caring responsibilities crowd it out.
A simple message for a busy life
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health CEO Dr Sarah White says Women’s Health Week is about acknowledging how hard it can be to prioritise your health when life is full and encouraging women to take one manageable step.
“For many women, their own health is the first thing they put off,” she says.
“The appointment can wait. The pain might pass. There is always someone else who needs something first.
“Women’s Health Week is about taking one step that feels possible.
“It could be booking an appointment, asking about a symptom, going for a walk or spending time with people who make you feel supported.”
It shouldn’t fall on women alone
Dr White says the responsibility for improving women’s health doesn’t rest solely with individuals.
“Good health also depends on the environment around you.
“That means having services that listen, workplaces that allow time for appointments, and communities that take women’s concerns seriously.
“When those things are in place, it becomes easier for women to make their health a priority,” she says.
What does ‘do it anyway’ mean to you?
Broadcast journalist, presenter and women’s health advocate Georgie Tunny, who is supporting this year’s Women’s Health Week, says the theme speaks to the habit of waiting for life to settle before making room for the things that matter.
“I think a lot of us tell ourselves we will do the things that make us feel better once life gets a little less hectic, but the problem is that we rarely get a clear patch of time,” she says.
“Women’s health can look different for everyone. For me, ‘do it anyway’ is about making more room for connection and being deliberate about spending time with the people I love.”
Endometriosis advocate Lotte Weber says ‘do it anyway’ resonates with women who know something is wrong but have found themselves repeatedly dismissed or left without answers.
Ms Weber was diagnosed with endometriosis at 20, years after being told she was too young to have the condition.
She created an entire dress from the medical records, sick notes, and scan results she accumulated along the way, making her long journey to diagnosis visible.
“I knew something was not right, but I was told I was too young for an endometriosis diagnosis,” says Ms Weber.
“‘Doing it anyway’ means continuing to fight for answers.
“It might mean seeking a second opinion, asking another question or speaking about your symptoms, no matter the response. Women deserve to be heard when they say they are in pain.”
