The more types we have, the better, and some are non-negotiable.
For as simple as improving lifestyle practices may seem at the outset, once we dig in, their complexity rapidly emerges, and frustration often follows.
Our countless, tiny, health-degrading habits are inextricably connected to every other area of our life: our schedule, budget, relationships, our built environment and neighborhood, our cultural norms, and societal expectations.
Those points of connection can be highly pressured and emotionally laden. It’s these strained connections to other areas that make positive changes difficult to manage sustainably. We all have a different equation to manage in this regard, but no one gets a free pass, and I do believe that lifestyle medicine is the only path to redeeming our inalienable human right to health.
The reality is, most of us need robust and consistent support to turn healthy inspiration into an inspired lifestyle.
These are the various types of support I encourage people to have lined up when taking on a lifestyle-centered endeavor.
Social Support
This is a really big one. The closest to non-negotiable. We need all types.
- Healthy role models. Everyone’s journey is different, but having someone who, in your eyes, has been wildly successful is critical.
- Close relationships. Family members, friends, housemates, people in your day-to-day life who will celebrate your efforts and accomplishments, help you problem solve, or at the very least won’t create challenges or friction when you start doing things differently. Negativity from social connections can be an unexpected and deeply discouraging challenge. Find your supporters early!
- Healthy communities. Time among people who share similar values around self-care is important. Gym, outdoor activities, spiritual communities, and health talks or workshops are potentially places where your focus on health would not feel alienating.
Clinical Support
Aligned Medical Practitioners – it’s a big bummer when your doc doesn’t believe in the power of lifestyle or gets impatient when it takes longer than three months. Look for functional or integrative options.
NOTE: With the rise of integrative and functional practitioners who appreciate the importance of lifestyle, many doctors are offering a “detailed 6-month plan” as part of their clinical service. While I love that they honor the impact of lifestyle, it will still be up to you to navigate the day-to-day and week-to-week implementation, progression, and challenges. This is where the healing happens, so make sure you have the support you need to be successful before walking out with that very expensive plan and risk overwhelm.
Allied Health Professionals – a massage therapist, acupuncturist, or psychotherapist can be a big help at challenging crossroads. Their modality is less important than the quality of your relationship and your experience of improvement in response to their services. Most modalities require a certain frequency at the beginning to gain ground. This is not the practitioner trying to upsell you. The subtle (yet significant) process of unwinding requires repetition and layered work.
Lifestyle support
A coach or someone in the role of providing consistent, week-to-week structure and guidance. This is your point-guard teammate, your master-mind collaborator, your navigator through the countless options, unforeseen hiccups, and strategic steps. I think it’s best if this is a professional but I might be biased.
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