Annual health check — Patter

The case

Most people intend to have an annual health check. Fewer actually do. The gap between intention and action isn’t usually reluctance — it’s the combination of a task that doesn’t feel urgent, a process that’s slightly unclear, and the ease of putting it off until next month, which becomes next year.

The other thing that gets in the way is the appointment itself. Not the logistics — those are simple enough — but the conversation. Most people have something they’ve been meaning to mention to a doctor and haven’t. A symptom that’s probably nothing. A change they’ve noticed. A question they feel awkward asking. The annual check-up is exactly the right time for those things, and exactly the time most people don’t raise them, because they’ve been sitting on them so long that it now feels like an overreaction.

Running this routine in Patter changes both of those patterns. The booking happens because there’s a step that says book it, not a vague intention to do it sometime. The symptom gets mentioned because it was written down before the appointment, not remembered — or not remembered — in the waiting room. The follow-up gets booked because the routine doesn’t close until it does.

The routine has a pause built into it. You book the appointment, set a reminder, and then there’s nothing to do until it’s done. When you walk out of the appointment, you open Patter and pick up where you left off. The thread doesn’t get lost because the routine holds it.

Annual Health Check

Where are you with your health check this year? Already had your appointment and need to follow up? Skip to @10. Booked and waiting? Skip to @8. Starting from scratch? Continue.
Work out what you're due for. Age, sex, and family history determine what's relevant. At minimum: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight. Add any screenings appropriate for your age — cervical smear, mammogram, bowel screening, prostate check. If you're not sure what applies to you, your GP's website or a quick search by age and sex will tell you.
Check when you last had a check-up. If it was within the last year and nothing was flagged, you may just need to follow up on anything outstanding. If it's been more than a year, or you can't remember, book the full thing.
Book the appointment. Phone, online portal, or app — whatever your practice uses. Ask specifically for an annual health check or full check-up, not just a routine appointment. If there's a wait, book now and note the date.
Write down any symptoms, concerns, or questions you want to raise. Do this now, not in the waiting room. Anything you've been putting off mentioning. Anything that's changed since last time. Write it somewhere you'll have it at the appointment.
Check whether you need to prepare anything. Some tests require fasting beforehand — typically 8–12 hours for cholesterol and blood sugar. Ask when you book, or check your confirmation. Also prepare a list of any medications you're currently taking.
Set a reminder for the day before your appointment. Use it to confirm any fasting requirements, find your medications list, and re-read your notes from step @5.
You're booked. Nothing to do until your appointment. When your appointment is done, open this routine and return to @9.
How did the appointment go? If everything was clear and no follow-up is needed, skip to @14. If results are pending or something was flagged, continue.
Note what was flagged or is still pending. Write it down specifically. "Chase cholesterol result by [date]" is actionable. "Check blood results" is not.
Chase any outstanding results. If results were due and haven't arrived, contact the practice. Don't wait indefinitely — results can get lost or overlooked.
Book any follow-up appointments or referrals. If your doctor recommended a referral or a follow-up test, book it now while you have the momentum. A referral that doesn't get booked is the same as no referral.
Note any lifestyle or medication changes discussed. If your doctor recommended something specific — a change in diet, more exercise, a new medication, a test to repeat in three months — write down what it is and when to act on it.
Book next year's appointment before you close this routine. You have the momentum now. Most practices let you book months ahead. A provisional date is better than starting from scratch next year.
Note one thing that would make next year's check-up easier. A symptom you nearly didn't mention. A question you forgot to ask. A test you had to push for. Write it somewhere you'll find it.

Make it yours

Step #5 is the most important one to do before the appointment, not during it. The thing you've been meaning to mention but keep putting off — the symptom that's probably nothing, the question that feels embarrassing to ask — is exactly what the appointment is for. Writing it down in advance means it doesn't get lost in the moment.

The pause at #8 is intentional. Some people book months ahead and lose the thread by the time the appointment arrives. The routine picks up exactly where it left off — open it when you walk out of the appointment and continue from #9 while the details are fresh.

Step #12 is where health checks most commonly fail to deliver on their purpose. A referral made but not booked, a follow-up test mentioned but not scheduled — these are the steps that matter most and get skipped most often. Book it before you leave the routine.

Step #14 is the one that makes next year easier. The hardest part of an annual health check is usually just starting — having a date already in the diary removes that friction entirely. Two minutes now saves the whole booking process next year.