Why Doctor Merryman:
Should Be Your Go-To Health Guru This Summer

A few years ago, if you’d asked me what it meant to be healthy, I would’ve given you the usual answer—exercise, eat well, drink water, get enough sleep. And while those things are important, I’ve since realized that real health isn’t just about what you put on your plate or how many steps you take in a day. It’s about how you feel—inside and out. And honestly? I spent way too much time stressing about “doing wellness right” instead of actually enjoying life.
That’s where Doctor Merryman (my ever-optimistic, wisdom-filled alter ego) comes in. Because let’s be real—most health advice makes it feel like you need a second job just to keep up. Doctor Merryman keeps it simple: laugh more, stress less, and enjoy the little things. And after years of trying to “fix” my health by following every trend out there, I finally get it. So this summer, let’s do things differently. Let’s take the pressure off and focus on the good stuff—laughter, gratitude, and slowing down enough to actually enjoy the life we’re living.
Step 1: Make Laughter Your Daily Medicine
If there’s one thing that’s saved me from myself over the years, it’s laughter. And I don’t mean a polite chuckle—I mean the kind of laugh that makes your stomach hurt, the kind that sneaks up on you in the middle of a bad day and completely turns things around.
I remember one summer when everything that could go wrong did. My car broke down, my AC decided to stop working in the middle of a heatwave, and to top it off, I spilled an entire iced coffee all over myself right before a meeting. Old me would have let frustration win. But instead? I laughed. Because really, what else can you do? Studies show that laughter lowers stress, boosts your immune system, and even relieves pain. But beyond all that, it just feels good. So this summer, I’m making laughter a priority—funny movies, ridiculous group chats, and saying yes to anything that promises a good time. You in?
Step 2: Relaxation Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
For years, I treated rest like it was something I had to earn. I felt guilty taking a break, convinced that if I wasn’t busy, I wasn’t doing enough. But you know what’s exhausting? Running on empty.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned is that relaxation isn’t laziness—it’s necessary. And when I finally started giving myself permission to rest, everything got better. I had more energy, I was actually present in my life, and I stopped feeling so burned out all the time. So now? I take naps without guilt. I sit outside with a book, just because. I let myself be instead of constantly feeling like I need to do. And let me tell you—it’s life-changing. This summer, let’s stop treating rest like a reward and start giving ourselves the care we actually need.
Step 3: Gratitude Changes Everything
I used to think gratitude was just a nice idea—something people talked about but didn’t actually live by. But then I started paying attention.
One summer, when life felt particularly overwhelming, I started writing down three things I was grateful for every night. Some days, it was big stuff—family, health, a win at work. Other days, it was as small as “I finally found a parking spot on the first try” or “the iced coffee I had today was perfect.” And you know what? It made all the difference. I wasn’t magically less stressed, but I was focusing more on the good. And when you do that, life feels lighter.
Now, gratitude is just part of my routine. It’s looking up from my phone to appreciate a sunset. It’s texting a friend out of nowhere just to say, “I appreciate you.” It’s finding something—even on the hard days—that reminds me life is still good. Because the more you look for the good, the more you find it.
Step 4: Enjoy Your Life—Really, Truly Enjoy It
You know what’s funny? We spend so much time chasing a “better” version of ourselves that we forget to actually live in the one we’re in right now. I used to obsess over self-improvement—always thinking I needed to be more productive, more fit, more something. But then I had this moment of clarity: What if I just enjoyed where I was? What if I stopped treating life like a problem to solve and just let myself be happy?
So now, I’m choosing joy on purpose. I’m dancing in the kitchen while I make dinner. I’m saying yes to last-minute road trips. I’m letting myself eat the dessert, take the detour, and enjoy the process instead of waiting for some perfect future moment. Because at the end of the day, the healthiest people aren’t the ones who follow every rule. They’re the ones who know how to live well.
Final Thoughts: Health Shouldn’t Feel Like a Chore
If wellness feels like a to-do list you have to check off, it’s time to rethink it. Real health isn’t about stress and restriction—it’s about joy, rest, and appreciation for the life you already have.
So this summer, let’s take a page from Doctor Merryman’s book. Let’s laugh more, worry less, and soak up the now. Because when we focus on feeling good first? Everything else just falls into place.
