Understanding Human Behavior around Health Changes
Awareness of where you (or others) are is crucial in understanding how to create change.
Human behavior is fascinating.
As one of (if not the most) intelligent creatures on this planet, it’s puzzling to look around and see how common it is for people to take actions that are destroying their health.
Over 70% of the American population is overweight or obese; By 2025 it’s predicted 1 in 2 Americans will have a B.M.I. in the classification of obese.
You would think an intelligent creature like us would be able to understand the negative consequences of our choices right away and correct them immediately.
But unfortunately, that is the opposite of what is true.
We talked a bit last week about how frustrating it may feel when your genuine and caring Health advice to loved ones falls on deaf ears.
Many of the time, it will because humans won’t take action on change until they have an “awakened” experience into how negatively their behaviors are impacting their well-being.
Back in the early 1970’s 2 psychologists wanted to understand why this was in a particular behavior… tobacco sensation. The main goal of their study was to understand why some people were able to quit smoking easily and why others struggled so much. As they conducted their study they saw that this model, The Transtheoretical model of change, can be applied to all Health Behaviors of humans.
They simplified this to The 5 Stages of Health Behavior Change.
Those 5 Stages are:
1) Pre-Contemplation
2) Contemplation
3) Preparation
4) Action
5) Maintenance
1st stage: Pre-Contemplation
In this stage, the person does not believe their behavior is hurting their health. They reject help or suggestions from others. There is no plan to change in the near future.
When confronted with change, many tend to dig their heels in deeper and defend their actions.
2nd stage: Contemplation
In this stage, the person may start to feel the possible adverse effects of the actions and behaviors on their health.
They may desire to change but feel lost or overwhelmed by the idea. Almost a sense of “what have I been doing’?
Within 6 months they'll start preparing for change.
3rd stage: Preparation
In this stage, the person has become more serious about creating change.
They start to implement ideas they have about how they can make the changes necessary to stop the suffering and pain. Thinking about what they can manipulate to correct their health behaviors.
Change usually begins to happen within the next 6 months.
4th Stage: Action
The hardest stage, in my opinion.
In this stage, action is taken on the preparation/planning stage. They start poking holes in the plan and learning to how adapt and make corrections as needed. They’re constantly putting in the work, learning the power of consistency.
Day after day, figuring out how to make these changes stick.
5th Stage: Maintenance
In this stage, Action has been followed through for at least 6 months and it has become a basic routine in their lives. They can and will no longer identify with old behaviors and habits. This is where momentum built from consistency takes over.
They "Made it" if you will
Understand:
It’s important to understand this process isn't a 1-way street, it's more of a round-a-bout…
We can enter and exit the round-a-bout at any stage at any time…
Having the awareness of where you (or clients, patients, and loved ones) are will help create a path forward for you to take.
Change can happen in an instant, change can happen over time. But change CAN HAPPEN.
Are you feeling frustrated trying to implement change in your life? Trying everything and nothing seems to work?
Let’s find a time to chat. You can schedule a FREE Health Strategy Call below.