Like any coach, your health coach’s primary mission is to help you become the best version of yourself. But what does this mean exactly? And how can your health coach help you improve self-care? Let’s take a deeper look at the critical role your health coach can play in your life.
What is a health coach?
Most of the time, health coaches are not doctors. Instead, they’re allied professionals such as counselors, nutritionists or exercise physiologists. They don’t direct your medical care. Rather, your health coach will serve as your cheerleader, advice-giver and partner as you navigate your health and wellness journey.
A health coach will help you identify areas where you need help to meet your wellness goals. Next, they’ll work with you to develop an individualized plan to address those challenges. Finally, you will meet with them regularly, often by phone or video chat, to work through your plan. Your health coach will hold you accountable, give suggestions and offer reassurance when needed.
What are their primary areas of focus?
Your coach will focus on the parts of wellness you find most challenging. These are different for everyone but often include such things as:
- Managing your blood sugar or cholesterol levels
- Nutrition and healthier eating
- Sleep issues
- Stress management
- Physical fitness
- Smoking, alcohol misuse, or substance use
- Weight management
- Finding a better work-life balance and overall quality of life
How can my health coach improve my self-care?
Self-care is a vital component of any successful wellness plan. But in our busy, always-on world, it’s frequently overlooked. First, your health coach will help you assess your current lifestyle and find ways to carve out time for self-care.
They’ll also help you brainstorm self-care activities and identify specific tactics that might work best for you. For example, if you are a very active or social person, sitting in a bubble bath for an hour might feel more like torture than relaxation. But a long hike in the woods or a game of cards with friends might be just what you need to rejuvenate.
Accountability is a key factor in sticking to any plan, and a health coach will help you with that. Of course, they can’t make you do your self-care homework. But knowing you have to check in with your coach (and yourself) can help you stay on track. When you do slip up, your coach will help you figure out why and how to make different choices next time.
For many people, changing your health and wellness habits can feel like a huge task. Maybe you’re incredibly busy, chronically stressed out, or overworked. You need someone who’s entirely in your corner and has the professional experience to objectively see how you contribute to (and can change) your own setbacks. Part cheerleader, part shoulder to cry on, and part professional guide, a health coach could be just what you need to get back on track. Public
The best thing about a health coach is it’s their job to meet you where you are without judgment and help you become a happier, healthier version of yourself.