Health coaches are an invaluable – and necessary – support system for your health and wellbeing, helping you navigate its inevitable ups and downs. They play a crucial (and science-backed) role in preventative health by helping you build sustainable habits that enhance your overall wellbeing and reduce the risk of future health issues. And, when you do get sick, health coaches are there to support your recovery and get you right back on track with your goals.
We all know the hardest part about getting sick isn’t always the stuffy nose, soul-sucking fatigue or pounding headache (though let’s be honest, these are far from fun). Sometimes, the worst part about catching a cold or suffering from the flu is that our lives feel turned upside down. When we do start to feel better, it can be tough to get back on track with our goals. This is exactly where health coaches come in to support.
This past month saw an alarming increase in cold and flu cases and related hospitalizations, which is not uncommon at this time of year. Today’s blog explores a few of the often under-appreciated ways health coaches help clients experiencing a short-term illness like a cold or flu manage through it and stay on track for their goals.
Health Coaches help you adjust your wellbeing plan to support your recovery.
When we’re under the weather, getting out of bed might seem impossible. And that’s okay. We’re human. Real, human health coaches – like the ones we work with here at YourCoach – are trained to meet you where you are with empathy and understanding. In fact, this is precisely the benefit of working with a human health coach. They listen to what you’re experiencing; hear you out on what you feel up for; and help you determine how you can best keep up with your ongoing health goals or when you need to seriously prioritize rest and recovery.
For example, a health coach might help you adjust your exercise routine, recommending gentle stretches instead of your usual workouts. They might help you incorporate nourishing foods and hydration that will boost your immune system without overwhelming your body. Whether it’s tweaking your daily habits or suggesting new ways to nurture your well-being, they provide the personalized support you need to heal while still honoring your health goals.
Health Coaches help you get back on track when you’re feeling better.
Once you do start feeling better, the real challenge becomes getting back on track with your health goals – and in the right way. Some of us might be ready to jump right in but aren’t sure how to go about it. Others might find it difficult to regain the momentum we had before we got sick. Health coaches help you assess your abilities and reconfigure your routine so it’s manageable as you ramp back up.
If you’re working on stress management, for example, health coaches can help you take stock of responsibilities that might have accumulated while you were sick. Together, you can craft an action plan for prioritizing the things that need to get done, delegating where you can, and creating boundaries that are so important to preventing burnout. When you’re back on track, they can help you re-introduce additional behavior changes that can continue to mitigate your stress, like mindful meditation and physical exercise. So many of us find it hard to get motivated because we feel overwhelmed by everything we feel we need to get done. Health coaches help us stay focused, preventing overwhelm while making the process feel more manageable.
Health Coaches help you embrace gratitude and resilience, and harness them for future success.
Getting sick challenges us physically, but also brings about mental and emotional obstacles. Health coaches help you shift your mindset as you’re recovering and develop critical skills you can apply throughout your health journey.
They might help you leverage the experience to get good at listening to your body – so that when you’re feeling run down in the future, you know how to identify it and adapt. They help you appreciate your body’s ability to heal, and recognize your own strength and autonomy towards taking control of your health goals. They remind you that as humans, we’re incredibly resilient, and that though we might experience some health issues in our lives, with a strong mindset and support system there is absolutely nothing that’s insurmountable.
While getting sick can feel like a disruption, it doesn’t have to derail your health journey entirely. Health coaches provide the support, guidance, and tools you need to navigate through both the physical and emotional challenges of illness, ensuring you don’t lose sight of your goals. Not only that, but they’re there to encourage healthy habits that might help reduce your risk of illness in the long-term.
If you’re an organization that’s interested in delivering REAL health coaching to your clients, employees and members, we’d love to connect with you! Send us a note to team@yourcoach.health.