Iain Harris
Iain Harris was Libraries Unlimited's Work Club Coordinator and has helped hundreds of people into work. And now a different library facility has also helped him with a big life change.
"I'd been under some stress at the time and wasn't feeling well. I decided on a whim to use the library blood pressure monitor to get my blood pressure checked. The blood pressure tester can be loaned, just like a book, with a library card. I took it home and the good news was it was very easy to use. The bad news was the reading was extremely high at 192/100. I did it again and it was 169/99 – still well over the 120/80 normal reading.
"It was upsetting to find this out but it was the nudge I needed to take actions and make changes that have been very positive for my health. The first thing I did was made appointments at my health centre. They sent me a chart to monitor my blood pressure so that I could seek further advice and consider medication if it remained high.
"As soon as I adopted lifestyle changes it came down drastically. I'd attended mindfulness meditation sessions in the past and always found them extremely calming and grounding. However, like many things that are good for us, it had slipped out of my routine in the hustle and bustle of daily life. It was only after the shock of seeing a high blood pressure reading that I realised just how much I'd been carrying — and how little space I was giving myself to process it.
"That prompted me to return to mindfulness more intentionally. I've found that taking even a few quiet minutes each day to pause, breathe, and observe what I'm feeling – without judgment – helps bring my stress levels down noticeably. Without that space, it's easy for stress to build unchecked, and that's when both mental and physical health can suffer. Reintroducing mindfulness has been a simple but powerful step toward restoring some balance.
"I made sure I was hydrated and hadn't skip breakfast like I had been doing, and I have a modified approach to daily tasks now. In the past, I often felt overwhelmed when things didn't go to plan — especially when those disruptions were caused by others, like partners, clients, or unexpected circumstances. I'd take it all on, trying to fix everything, which created constant pressure and left me feeling drained. These days, I've come to accept that not everything is within my control — and more importantly, not everything needs to be. If someone else needs to take responsibility, I let them. I no longer carry the weight of things that are, frankly, not mine to solve. That shift in mindset means I spend far less time worrying and more time focusing on what's actually achievable that day.
"This approach hasn't just made my day-to-day life feel more manageable – it's also improved my health, focus, and overall mood. I'm still proactive and organised, but I don't tie my wellbeing to the outcome of every situation. I've learned that calm, consistent effort goes much further than stressed perfectionism.
"The high blood pressure reading was a real shock, but strangely, a helpful one. It gave me clear evidence that stress really does affect my health — and that awareness was the push I needed to start doing things differently. I now check my blood pressure regularly, and it's become obvious that when I'm more stressed, my blood pressure goes up. That connection helps motivate me to take better care of myself, even during chaotic times.
"It's not about pretending everything's fine — it's about responding differently. A mix of awareness, self-compassion, and a bit of humour has helped me shift how I cope. And while I can't say I've mastered it, I'm handling things now in a way that would've felt impossible before. I'm doing my best with 'the art of not sweating it.'!
"By the time I'd finished my final reading for the health centre I was down to 22/76. I am consistently getting readings in or close to the normal range now. I am so pleased. Having the blood pressure check was the wake up call I needed. I would have carried on my habitual ways and not taken steps to improve my health without it.
"I don't think I am alone in this and I am really pleased to see blood pressure monitors are being made available in all of the libraries. I have no doubt they will reveal important hidden health issues for many people and will hopefully prompt healthful changes for those that can, and potentially life-saving medication for those that need it."
