Health and Illness — Unit 8, Pre-intermediate to Intermediate English

On Monday morning I woke up with a strong **headache**, but I still went to work because our team had an important meeting. By midday, my **symptoms** were worse, and I could not focus on my computer screen. A colleague noticed my face was pale and suggested that I book an **appointment** at the local clinic. I agreed because I knew that if I ignored the pain, it might become serious.

The doctor asked several questions, checked my temperature, and said I had a minor **infection**. She wrote a **prescription** and advised me to drink water, rest, and avoid late-night screens. Although I was worried about missing work, she explained that people **recover** faster when they sleep well. Two days later, I felt much better, so I thanked my colleague, who reminded me that health should come before deadlines, especially when the body gives clear warning signs. Since then, I keep medicine basics at home and schedule checkups sooner whenever unusual pain continues.

That week made me look at my habits properly for the first time in years, and I did not like what I saw.

I was not ill because of bad luck. I was sleeping five hours a night, eating **junk food** at my desk four days a week, and drinking coffee instead of water. I had not done any real **exercise** since university. I had also **put on weight** — nine kilos in three years — without ever noticing it happen, because it happened slowly.

So I made three changes, and I deliberately made them small, because I have failed at big ones before.

First, I walk the last two stops home instead of staying on the bus. That is twenty-five minutes a day and it costs nothing.

Second, I stopped keeping biscuits in my desk drawer. I did not decide to eat a **balanced diet** — that was too vague. I just removed the drawer.

Third, I put my phone on the other side of the bedroom at half past ten. This one was the hardest and made the biggest difference.

Six months later I have lost five kilos, I sleep about seven hours, and I have not had a **temperature** or a **sore throat** since March.

I am not going to pretend I have become a different person. I still eat badly when I travel, and I have never once been to a gym.

But I no longer work through a **headache**, and that is the change that matters.