Health Coaching is “In” This Year

Did your January kick off with the familiar chorus of “New Year, New Me” mantras, friends sharing their “In/Out” lists on social media, coworkers signing up for marathons, or family embracing Dry January? Watching loved ones set goals is inspiring and setting your own is an invigorating way to start the year; however, maintaining enthusiasm and motivation can prove challenging without immediate results or a fitting plan. 

This is where the support of your onsite primary care provider can come into play. As the quarterback of your health journey, your primary care provider can support your various health initiatives—whether it’s weight loss, smoking cessation, or managing acute anxiety—through consistent health coaching sessions.

Introducing $0 Health Coaching  

Available at no cost through your onsite health center, health coaching offers a personalized approach led by an internal medicine provider. This guidance centers on key lifestyle factors, such as sleep, stress, nutrition, and exercise, all aimed at achieving your wellness goals.

These pillars of health are interconnected components of your overall wellbeing. For instance, quality sleep can enhance our ability to manage stress, while stress management techniques can promote better sleep. During your health coaching sessions, you and your provider will collaboratively outline strategies to modify your existing habits in each of these areas to meet and achieve your goals.

The Impact of Lifestyle Factors: 

Sleep:

• Promotes the body’s restorative function, including tissue repair, hormone regulation, immune function, and cognitive skills such as memory, concentration, and emotional resilience while reducing anxiety and depression risks.
• Decreases risks for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers.

Stress:

• Regulates cortisol levels, which can support metabolic and immune functions.
• Reduces the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke risks by regulating blood pressure and inflammation.
• Enhances emotional resilience, mitigating anxiety, depression, and burnout risks.

Nutrition:

• Supports blood sugar regulation, immune function, energy production, bone density, and weight management.
• Lowers risks of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

Exercise:

• Enhances cardiovascular health, bone density, muscle strength, and respiratory function, lowering chronic condition risks.
• Regulates mood, and diminishes stress, anxiety, and depression.