So, what is “Health Behaviour Change” anyway?

If you follow any health or wellness websites, personalities or blogs, you’ve probably heard this term a lot. It’s used all the time…but really, what is it? What does it mean?

First, we can tell you want it is not. Health behaviour change is not “3-Quick Steps”, or any other number of steps for that matter. It’s also not “mind over matter”. And surprisingly, it’s often not completely under your control – despite what many posts might want you to believe! It’s simply not a “quick fix”, not what you “should do”, nor is it “all up to you”.

As health behaviour change researchers with 30+ years of knowledge and experience, we believe that the evidence around health behaviour change is quite consistent. There are certain skills and strategies that are consistently effective for supporting health behaviour change. Things like goal setting, tracking behaviours, building confidence or self-efficacy, enlisting social support, monitoring and adjusting progress…these are all evidence-based strategies that can help an individual self-regulate behaviour. And ultimately be more successful in health behaviour change attempts!

Taking the steps to become more active, eat well, reduce stress, get enough sleep and engage in those lifestyle activities that will enhance your health and wellness is complex! It absolutely requires specific skills and strategies, is dynamic and what you need at one time to support your behaviour change can differ in other situations and during other times of your life.

Health behaviour change results in a fitter, stronger, healthier more peaceful you. Yes, it’s work…but when you engage in the right health behaviour change and see the positive impact, research shows you will feel better – physically, mentally and emotionally. Overall, you’ll enjoy a better quality of life.

➡️ Download our Helpful “Behaviour Change” PDF here.

Interested in learning more?

Keep watching here as we build more resources to support you in your health behaviour change! We know that you are able to make positive health behaviour change, find your best health, and learn the strategies to adapt to challenges. Health behaviour change is achievable by building the right skills and enlisting the right support. After all, we are all able to thrive.