Happy New Year: Why My 2026 Resolution Is to Look After Myself – and Why Vitamin D Matters
- Debbie North
- Jan 3
- 4 min read
Happy New Year!
As I step into 2026, my resolution is a simple but deeply meaningful one: to look after myself.
Looking back, 2025 wasn’t the best year for my health. In fact, it began in a way I could never have predicted—with a three-month spell in hospital. Those months were challenging, not just physically but emotionally too. When I was finally able to leave the hospital, it became clear that my life had changed. My home, which had once suited me perfectly well, was suddenly deemed unsuitable for my new needs.
That realisation marked the start of another long and stressful chapter: finding a new home that did meet those needs. A Year of Change, Stress, and Strength
Anyone who has moved house knows how stressful it can be. Add health challenges, uncertainty, and long waiting processes into the mix, and that stress multiplies quickly. While trying to rebuild my strength and adjust to changes in my body, I was also navigating paperwork, assessments, and decisions that felt overwhelming at times.
Eventually, after months of waiting and hoping, I moved into a lovely new home, one that truly supports me. An added blessing is that I now live closer to my family, something I don’t take lightly. Although I’m no longer in the Yorkshire Dales, which I loved dearly, I’m fortunate to still have plenty of green space around me. Nature remains a huge part of my daily life, offering calm, perspective, and a sense of grounding.
From the outside, things were finally settling. But inside, my body was telling a different story.
Fatigue, Anxiety, and a Missing Piece
Despite spending time outdoors and slowly rebuilding my strength, I felt continually fatigued. Simple tasks drained my energy, and alongside the tiredness came struggles with anxiety. I initially put this down to the emotional toll of the year—hospitalisation, upheaval, and change all leave their mark.
But a recent blood test revealed something surprising:I was deficient in Vitamin D.
Like many people, I associated vitamin D deficiency with lack of sunlight. Given the amount of time I spend outdoors, this result genuinely shocked me. It left me asking an important question:
Why is vitamin D so important—and how could I be lacking it?
Why Vitamin D Is So Important
Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin,” but its role in the body goes far beyond sunny days.
Supporting Bones and Muscles 🦴
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Without enough vitamin D, bones can become thin, weak, or brittle. In adults, deficiency can increase the risk of fractures and contribute to muscle weakness—something I was already working hard to overcome.
Energy Levels and Fatigue ⚡
Ongoing fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Low levels can make everyday activities feel exhausting, even when sleep and nutrition seem adequate. For me, learning this helped explain why my energy hadn’t fully returned, despite making progress in other areas.
Mental Health and Mood 🧠
Vitamin D also plays a role in brain function and mood regulation. Research has linked low vitamin D levels with anxiety and depression, and while it’s never the only factor, it can certainly contribute. Understanding this connection made me kinder to myself about the emotional challenges I’ve been facing.
Immune System Support 🛡️
After a prolonged hospital stay, immune health matters more than ever. Vitamin D helps regulate immune responses and supports the body’s ability to fight infections and reduce inflammation.
How Can You Be Deficient Even If You’re Outdoors?
This was my biggest question. The answer, it turns out, isn’t simple.
Season and sunlight angle: In the UK, especially during autumn and winter, the sun isn’t strong enough for the skin to make sufficient vitamin D.
Age and health changes: Illness, recovery, and reduced mobility can affect how the body processes and stores vitamin D.
Skin coverage and sunscreen: Necessary for protection, but they also reduce vitamin D synthesis.
Absorption issues: Certain health conditions can affect how well vitamin D is absorbed from food.
In other words, spending time outside doesn’t guarantee adequate vitamin D levels—something I now know first-hand.
Recognising the Symptoms
Looking back, the signs were there:
Persistent tiredness
Muscle weakness
Low mood and anxiety
A general sense that my body wasn’t quite recovering as expected
A simple blood test provided clarity, and with that came a sense of relief. Knowing why I felt the way I did meant I could finally take steps to address it.
My 2026 Resolution: Health With Intention
This discovery has shaped my approach to 2026. Looking after myself now means:
Following medical advice on vitamin D supplementation
Continuing gentle movement and time in green spaces
Listening to my body instead of pushing through exhaustion
Treating mental and physical health as equally important
Health isn’t just about surviving a difficult year—it’s about rebuilding, nourishing, and giving yourself permission to heal.
Final Thoughts
If 2025 taught me anything, it’s that health can change in an instant—and that recovery is rarely linear. Vitamin D deficiency may seem like a small thing, but for me, it explained months of fatigue and anxiety and reminded me how interconnected our bodies truly are.
As this new year begins, I’m choosing awareness, balance, and self-care. If you’ve been feeling unusually tired or low, it might be worth checking your vitamin D levels too. Sometimes, the missing piece is something we least expect.
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