Many patients struggle to adhere to their treatment plan due to the new health habits they need to follow, even though they recognize the importance and necessity of these changes for managing their condition or preventing future health issues.
If your treatment plan includes lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, taking your medication consistently, managing your diet, or improving your sleep, you may feel overwhelmed about how to effectively incorporate these habits into your daily routine.
To assist you in managing these changes and improving your overall health and well-being, here are some helpful steps to consider.
Start With One Small Change
If your healthcare provider has given you several recommendations, choose just one to focus on first. Pick the change that feels most manageable, or that will have the biggest impact on how you feel day-to-day.
For example, if you need to take medication, exercise, and change your diet, start with the medication routine. Once you are accustomed to taking your medication, add the next habit.
Connect New Habits to Your Daily Routine
The easiest way to remember a new healthy habit is to link it to something you already do every day. This keeps you consistent and sticks to other health routines. Think about where your new health behavior fits most naturally in your morning, afternoon, and evening routines, for instance:
- Take your blood pressure medication when you start your coffee maker
- Do your physical therapy exercises right after you shower
- Check your blood glucose levels before each meal
- Take your evening medication when you plug in your phone to charge
Prepare Your Environment
By setting up your environment, it will support making healthy routines easier, for instance:
- Put medications in a visible spot where you’ll see them (not hidden in a cabinet)
- Keep a water bottle at your desk if you need to drink more fluids
- Lay out your walking shoes by the door
- Pre-portion snacks if you’re managing diabetes or watching your diet
- Set multiple phone reminders for time-sensitive medications
Keep a Simple Record
Keeping track of your schedule allows you to identify days when you don’t follow it. This helps you to recall if you took your prescription, spot patterns in your symptoms, share information with your doctor, and hold yourself accountable.
Recording does not have to be complicated. Use whatever works best for you, such as a paper calendar, a note-taking tool, or a simple checkbox system.
When You Miss a Day
You will have days when you forget, feel too tired, or something disrupts your routine. This happens to everyone, even if you have been following good practices for years, don’t be hard on yourself, don’t be hard on yourself. Think how to avoid the stumbling block the next time and resume your regular routine as quickly as possible.
If you find yourself consistently missing your health routine, speak with your doctor. There could be a simpler solution or additional support available.
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Team
If you are having difficulty maintaining a new health behavior, discuss it with your doctor. Your physician wants you to be successful in following to your treatment plan, which may require altering the plan to meet your real situation.
- What’s the most important change I should focus on first?
- Can you help me figure out when to fit this into my day?
- Is there a simpler version of this I could start with?
- What support services do you have for patients working on this?
Moving Forward
New health habits require time to become routine in your daily life. Remember to be patient with yourself; little, consistent steps lead to significant improvements in your health over time. Your health is worth the effort, and you don’t have to do everything perfect.
Need help implementing your treatment plan? Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider and discuss resources and ways to help you stay on track with your health journey.
