Mick Hughes:
Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist
M. Sports Physio, B. Physio, B.Ex. Sci.

I was nearly home from my evening walk with the dog the other night when something clicked. I'd been letting my mind wander. You know, turning over the day, the week, the bigger picture and I found myself thinking about how consistent exercise has finally become for me. Every day. Without fail. Walks, gym, the lot. If a GP asked me right now, how many days a week do you move your body?, I could look them in the eye and say every single one. That feels good to say. It also fee

A mental health update from someone who used to look like he'd wet himself on stage. It's been a couple of months since I last checked in on the mental health front, so I figured it was time to pull up a chair, make a coffee, and have a proper chat. Quick recap for anyone who missed the last instalment of Mick's Ongoing Psychological Adventures: a couple of months back I posted about what had been a genuinely brilliant run with my mental health. No drama. No fires. No white-k

I was 26 years old when I got the phone call. It was a Sunday night, which already felt a little unusual. Doctors generally don’t ring you on a Sunday night to tell you that everything is wonderfully boring. A few days earlier, I’d had a suspicious mole removed from the middle of my back. Not somewhere helpful, like my forearm, where I might have noticed it changing. Not somewhere obvious, like my face, where I might have seen it in the mirror. Nope. Right between my shoulder

Today I went back to my psychologist for a follow-up, and honestly it was really, really good. For context, I’d started 2026 the way most of us do: optimistic, fresh-page energy, “this is my year” vibes. And then I got back into the groove of work and life - and just felt a bit flat . Not in a catastrophic way. No dramatic plot twist. Just that familiar post-holiday drop where you come back from something amazing (Canada was unreal BTW - genuinely one of the most memorable tr