FIVE QUESTIONS is where we ask members of the community to talk about how they stay HEALTHY. Katrina Guelas who is the business and operations manager at Kaleido Health Centre (winners of the CESPHN Primary Health Award for ‘Excellence in General Practice’, 2026), stays healthy by making mindful decisions such as intermittent fasting and integrating exercise into her daily life.

1. What did you eat yesterday?

Yesterday was a fairly typical day. I started with my usual black coffee. I try to practise intermittent fasting when I can so I don’t always have breakfast or lunch, particularly when work gets busy and I get caught up in the day. Dinner was a home-cooked meal.

I try to eat reasonably well and make mindful food choices, although like most people with a busy schedule, some days are more organised than others. I definitely rely on my black coffee to get me through the day.

2. What exercise did you do yesterday?

I went for a walk. I find walking is one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into a busy schedule. Even a short walk helps me clear my head, get some fresh air and step away from work for a little while.

I have come to appreciate that exercise doesn’t always need to be a structured workout, sometimes simply getting outside and moving is enough to make a difference.

3. When did you last see a primary health professional?

I last saw my GP for a routine appointment. Working in a healthcare environment, I’m constantly reminded of how important preventative health is and how easy it can be to put your own appointments off when you’re busy looking after everyone and everything else.

It’s a good reminder that we need to practise what we encourage others to do and make our own health a priority.

4. What do you do to improve your mental health?

My role as Business and Operations Manager at Kaleido Health Centre is rewarding but it can be demanding. Kaleido is a specialised, integrated, multidisciplinary LGBTQ+ health and general practice service located in Eveleigh. There are always things to organise, decisions to make and challenges to work through and no two days are ever quite the same.

I genuinely enjoy being part of a healthcare team and knowing that the work we do behind the scenes helps support our clinicians and ultimately our patients.

Having a sense of purpose in my work contributes greatly to my mental wellbeing but I have also learnt that it’s just as important to know when to switch off. I try to make time for family and friends, get outside for a walk and give myself a break from thinking about work.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things like a quiet evening or spending quality time with loved ones that help put everything back into perspective. For me, maintaining good mental health is about finding that balance and recognising that it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes.

5. What are your health goals for the next month?

My main goal is to be more consistent with looking after myself. I would like to make more time for regular exercise, even if it’s just a daily walk, improve my sleep routine and dedicate more time to personal development.

Working in healthcare, it’s easy to spend so much time making sure everyone else is looked after that you forget to do the same for yourself. I would like to be better at practising what I believe in and remembering that looking after yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Read previous ‘FIVE QUESTIONS’ here

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