When did you last see the dentist? Was the eye test two years ago, or three?
Routine health appointments are easy to lose track of. Nothing is wrong, so nothing prompts you to book, and each one is on its own schedule.
A simple checklist, a few dates and some well-timed reminders keep them from drifting for years.
Why routine appointments drift
Unlike a bill or a deadline, a missed checkup has no immediate consequence. That's exactly why it slips:
- Different schedules. Some every six months, some yearly, some every couple of years.
- Booking takes effort. A phone call during work hours, or an online form you put off.
- You don't know when the last one was. So you can't tell whether you're due.
- Family multiplies it. Every person in the household has their own set.
The fix is to write the schedule down once and let reminders do the remembering.
The checklist
Below are the routine appointments most adults keep track of. How often you need each one depends on your age, health and history, so ask your doctor, dentist or optician what interval they recommend for you. Write that down next to each item.
General checkup
Many people book a yearly physical or general health check with their doctor. It's a chance to check blood pressure, talk about anything that's changed and get any screening you're due for.
An annual physical reminder a few weeks before your usual month gives you time to get an appointment.
Dentist
Many dentists suggest a checkup and cleaning every six months, though some people are seen more or less often. Ask your dentist what suits you.
The easiest habit: book the next one before you leave the current one. Then a dentist checkup reminder only needs to remind you of the date.
Eye test
Adults often have an eye test every year or two. If you wear glasses or contacts, or have a condition that affects your eyes, it may be more often.
An eye exam reminder on the right cycle saves you from realising, mid-squint, that it's been four years.
Flu shot
The flu vaccine is usually offered each autumn. Pharmacies and doctors' offices often start taking bookings in early autumn, and slots can fill up.
A flu shot reminder at the start of the season, every year, is one of the simplest reminders to set.
Screenings and other checks
Depending on your age and history, your doctor may recommend other regular checks. Ask at your general checkup which ones apply to you and how often, then add them to your list. Don't guess. Your doctor knows your history.
Other regular appointments
Some people also have regular appointments for:
- Skin checks.
- Hearing tests.
- Ongoing conditions, with a specialist.
- Prescription reviews.
Add whatever applies, with the interval your doctor or specialist gave you.
Build your own health calendar
Here's a simple way to set it up in one sitting.
1. List every appointment and its interval
Write a short table:
- Appointment.
- How often (from your doctor, dentist or optician).
- When you last went.
- When you're next due.
If you don't know when you last went, call the practice and ask. Most keep records.
2. Pick an anchor month for the yearly ones
Spreading yearly checks randomly across the calendar makes them harder to remember. Some people anchor them to one month:
- Your birthday month. Easy to remember, and a natural moment for a health check-in.
- January. Fits with new-year planning, and some insurance plans reset at the start of the year.
- A quiet month at work. Whenever you're least likely to cancel.
Book the physical and eye test in or around that month. The dentist will run on its own six-month cycle.
3. Set reminders to book, not just to attend
Most reminders are for the appointment itself. The more useful one is the reminder to book it, a few weeks before you're due. That's the step that gets put off.
Then, once it's booked, a reminder a day or two before the appointment.
4. Repeat it for the family
If you manage appointments for children or a partner, add them to the same list. Keep each person's due dates separate, but review them together. The post on tracking renewal dates uses the same idea for passports and insurance.
Make booking easier
The hardest part is often the booking call. A few things help:
- Book the next appointment at the end of this one. Especially for the dentist.
- Keep practice phone numbers and online booking links in one note.
- Book in the first hour of the day, when many offices open their lines.
- Ask about reminder texts or emails from the practice, and use them as a backup.
Doing it with Mindie
Mindie lives in WhatsApp and handles repeating reminders on long cycles: yearly, every six months, every 24 months. Set each one once and it comes back on schedule.
"Every year on 1 September remind me to book my flu shot"
"Every 6 months from 24 February remind me to book a dentist checkup"
"Every 24 months from 1 June remind me to book an eye test"
When you've booked, reply "done". If you're busy, snooze it to a time you'll be free to call, like "snooze 2 hours".
Keep your table as a note, so you can ask "when was my last eye test?" any time:
"Note: health dates. Dentist last 10 Sep, eye test last June 2025, physical last March"
Mindie keeps the schedule you give it. It doesn't tell you which tests you need or how often. That's for your doctor, dentist and optician.
Reminders worth setting
- Annual physical reminder: a nudge to book your yearly checkup a few weeks ahead.
- Dentist checkup reminder: every six months, or whatever your dentist recommends.
- Eye exam reminder: every year or two, on your optician's advice.
- Flu shot reminder: at the start of every flu season.
- Doctor appointment reminder: a reminder the day before each booked visit.
FAQ
What health checkups should I get every year?
It depends on your age, health and history. Many adults have a yearly checkup with their doctor, a dentist visit every six months and an eye test every year or two, plus a flu shot each autumn. Ask your doctor which screenings apply to you.
How often should I go to the dentist?
Many dentists recommend every six months, but some people need to go more or less often. Your dentist can tell you the right interval for you.
When should I book my flu shot?
Flu vaccines are usually offered from early autumn. Set a yearly reminder at the start of the season so you can book before slots fill up.
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