The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
It’s no secret that your habits affect your health, mentally and physically. That’s why it’s important to work on making better choices daily and build healthy habits that support your health goals, whether that’s lowering your A1C or simply adding more movement into your life. Having people around you who understand and support your goals can help you stay motivated. Let’s go through some tips to help you get your family and friends on board with your new habits to help make your glucose health journey one of success.
Know your “why”
You know you’re ready to start working on healthier habits, but what is your “why” behind them? Being able to understand the reasons behind your new habits will help you communicate them more clearly to your support system. You’ll also have a better grasp on your own motivations so you can feel more confident in talking about them.
Your reasons are personal to you, but they may impact other people. For instance, you may want to start exercising or eating in a different way to help you stay on top of your glucose health. Family members or friends might not be as excited about your new endeavors if they are content with their own habits that differ from yours. But this is your health we’re talking about. And by knowing your “why” you’ll be able to lead the conversation with your goals in mind.
Keep it clear and specific
Being super clear and specific will help you be able to communicate your new habits and goals with your friends and family. Let’s look at how to use the SMART goal method, with the example of adding more walking into your routine as the general goal.
S: The goal should be specific. It helps to use action words, so you know exactly what you need to do. For instance, “Walk 10 minutes daily” tells you what action you need to take.
M: Make your goal measurable. You want to include numbers to be able to measure progress. How many days per week will you go on a 10-minute walk?
A: Be sure it’s attainable. You want to be realistic about your goal to set yourself up for success. Does a daily 10-minute walk sound doable?
R: Make your goal relevant. You want to make sure your new habit aligns with who you are as a person, including your values. What does the walk represent to you? Perhaps it’s an effort to lower your A1C.
T: Keep it time-bound. Have a target date in mind to start and to reach your goal. This will help you track your progress and know if you need to reassess your habits or goals at any time. When will you start your daily walks and by what date will you be consistently walking each day for 10 minutes?
This detailed view of your habits and goals will help you with your new lifestyle changes, as well as help your support system understand your motivations.
Collaborate and listen
Your friends and family want to support you because they care about you. Allowing them to be involved in your new habits and glucose goals can make them feel good about helping you. They may even have helpful suggestions or experience in making the same types of changes. By keeping an open ear to their input, you may gain some wisdom in the process.
It can also help to invite loved ones to experience new things with you. If you’re working toward eating more low carb meals to keep blood sugar levels more stable, invite your loved ones to learn how to cook or bake some new recipes with you. Or instead of grabbing pizza like you and your friend always do, suggest trying the fun new salad spot in your neighborhood. When you collaborate with friends and family in this way, you can feel like you're all in on the new habit.
Take location into consideration
While planning your conversation with your friends and family about your new habits that support healthier glucose levels, keep the location in mind. You’ll want to choose a place that is comfortable, private, and with little-to-no distractions. This will help keep the conversation focused so you can clearly communicate your needs.
Deciding to talk with others about changes to your lifestyle habits can feel challenging at first. But with these tips, you’ll have a plan of action to help your confidence soar while you communicate with your support system. We can’t wait to see you make the needed changes for better glucose health.
Curated & reviewed by: Kayce Sol
MA, RN, BSN, CDCES
MA, RN, BSN, CDCES
Kayce Sol is a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
