The following content discusses in detail the science behind health coaching.
1. Personalized Goal-Setting
One of the most vital elements of health coaching is curating the right goals. Many individuals struggle with getting their health targets in action because their goals are usually vague or unrealistic. Health coaches aid in effectively breaking down aspirations into SMART attributes—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Customized goal-setting also takes into account individual lifestyles, schedules, and diet choices. A busy professional may call for a unique approach to fitness journey than a stay-at-home parent. Health coaches can help you curate strategies that are realistic and customized to the person’s specific circumstances.
2. Behavioral Psychology Techniques
Health coaching is often based on behavioral science and psychology. Changing habits isn’t just connected to your willpower—it calls for strategies that are linked to the brain’s natural functionalities.
Some of the best strategies include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): According to health coaches, individuals often manifest negative thoughts about food, exercise, and self-worth. Instead of pondering, “I failed because I didn’t exercise today,” health coaches encourage positive self-talk, such as, “I missed a workout, but I will cover it tomorrow.”
- Habit Stacking: This process comes with interconnecting new habits with present ones. For instance, if you already have a habit of preparing coffee in the morning, you could also integrate a new hobby like for a few minutes while the coffee is being made.
- Self-Monitoring: Keeping tabs on progress through journals, applications, or wearables enhances awareness and motivation for exercise. Projects have shown that individuals who log their food intake and workouts have higher chances of hitting their goals.
3. Accountability and Motivation
Many individuals often face issues in following healthy habits because they often struggle with accountability. In this case, health coaches act as a reliable support system that offers consistent check-ins, encouragement, and feedback. Realizing that someone is checking your progress can be an effective motivator in this case.
In addition to additional accountability, health coaches will support people to develop intrinsic motivation—the internal drive to ensure positive changes.
