I see patients at The NC Family Doctor who have some undesirable health habits like smoking.  I usually ask them when they plan to quit.  I usually get one of two answers: 1) I don’t want to quit.  I like smoking.  2.)  I wish I could.  I quit once for 6 weeks (or for some length of time) but I started again.

The first patient is answering I won’t.  Not an uncommon response for some people.  The second is answering I can’t.  Even more common.  Both have thought about it.  One has even taken action in the past but neither are ready now.

Think of a behavior like smoking, not exercising, eating too much or not enough.  Select one you have or have changed.

Now look at these 5 questions.

1. I do not intend to change this behavior in the near future.

2. I am thinking about changing this behavior in the near future

3. I am getting ready to change in the next 30 days.

4. I changed that behavior less than 6 months ago.

5. I changed that behavior more than 6 months ago.

A coach will use different approaches for different answers.  For the I won’t person, I would try to get them to tell me some of the benefits of changing the behavior.  I would not try to get them to change, just repeat aloud the benefit to someone else who quits.

For the person contemplating change in the next 30 days the approach would be more information and reinforcing their decision.  They need help getting ready and setting the goal to change.  They need to see that the benefits to change are better and bigger than the barriers to change.

For the person who has changed for more than 6 months, I would talk to them about possible triggers that might make them relapse into old behavior patterns.  How do they plan to handle triggers, or a relapse.  Do they have a 72 hour plan in case of relapse?

Ask yourself the above questions regarding a personal behavior.  If you are stumped as to what to do, get yourself a coach.

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