We all know the drill…..Your car starts making a weird noise, or even if it doesn’t—you book it in for a service. Regular maintenance. Oil change. Tyres rotated. Filters cleaned. Why? Because it’s an investment. You want it to run well, last longer, and not break down in the middle of a motorway during a bank holiday.
Now let me ask you this: when was the last time you serviced yourself?
I’m not talking about a bubble bath and a face mask (although those are lovely and also have their place in your wellbeing). I mean real maintenance, your strength and mobility? The stuff that keeps your human machine running smoothly so it doesn’t seize up when you attempt to get out of a beanbag chair or sneeze too enthusiastically.
Your Body Is the Original Engine
Think about it. You’ve only got one body, and it’s working harder than any car or lawnmower you own. It gets you out of bed, down the stairs, into your day, and through all the bending, lifting, twisting, and screen-staring life throws at you. And unlike a car, you can’t trade this one in. (Not yet, anyway. Science is working on it.)
So why do we treat our bodies like an old garden shed? We ignore the creaks and groans, pretend we didn’t feel that twinge in our back, and assure ourselves that "it's probably fine" while we dig into another takeaway on the sofa.
Strength and Flexibility – Your Service Manual
Here's the good news: your body wants to feel good. It responds pretty quickly when you give it what it needs. A little bit of strength training to keep muscles from giving up and going on strike. Some flexibility work to stop your hamstrings from behaving like a pair of angry rubber bands. And no, you don’t have to become a gym rat or contort yourself like a pretzel at sunrise.
Start small. A few bodyweight exercises, some resistance bands, a yoga session here and there. The goal isn’t to turn into a fitness influencer with 73 protein powders on the kitchen shelf. It’s to feel better, move better, and make sure your joints don’t sound like a microwave popcorn bag every time you stand up.
Time Is a Real Thing – We Get It
Life is busy. We’ve all got work, laundry, social things, kids, pets, errands, and the endless black hole that is our phones. But here’s the kicker: regular movement doesn’t take time—it saves it. A stronger, more flexible body gets injured less often, has more energy, and is better equipped to handle whatever randomness life decides to throw your way. Including small humans who want piggyback rides or shopping bags that test your grip strength like you’re on a game show.
Final Thought: MOT Yourself
So next time you book in your car for its MOT or get the lawnmower blades sharpened, spare a thought for the wonderful, complicated, hardworking machine you live in every day. Schedule some time for your maintenance. Your future self will thank you when you’re bounding up stairs at 80 and still able to touch your toes (or at least see them).
After all, you wouldn’t drive a car 100,000 miles without a service.
So don’t live in a body for 30, 40, 50 years without checking under the hood.
Go on—give yourself a tune-up. You deserve it.