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If you want information you can trust and use, ask an expert! The 1Life blog team asked healthcare experts in various specialities what they wish their patients or clients would get right in 2018. Here’s what they had to say.
Do what’s right for YOU
Judy Klipin, a life coach
“I wish my clients would come to understand that the best thing that they can do for themselves is the right thing. By ‘right thing’ I don’t necessarily mean the morally correct thing; I just mean the thing that’s right for them.
“People should remember that what’s best for their husband, children, brother, wife or friend is not necessarily right for them. And when they do too much of the things that aren’t right for them, they can start to approach burnout. So they need to listen to their bodies – if it’s making them sick, bored or stressed, it’s not right for them.
“Of course, sometimes people have no choice, but I think they do have a choice about HOW they do things. And they can probably say no, or ask for help more often than they think.”
Don’t fear food!Tabitha Hume, a registered clinical dietician
“If I had one piece of advice for my patients (and all people) for 2018, it would be for them to banish their fear of food.
“There is such conflicting advice out there, thanks to unqualified quacks spouting fear-mongering statements about how harmful some foods can be. People are simply terrified of eating this food group or that food! I wish that they would find out if the information comes from registered clinical dieticians, or if it is coming from sensationalist or conspiratorial ‘experts’.
“If you consult with a registered dietician, we will tell you that no food can harm. And that all food fits. A registered dietician will simply tell you how it fits, after taking into consideration your body and its unique problems and goals. There is NEVER a reason to fear food or your love of it.”
Find out Tabitha’s recommendations for the best food swaps to make if you want to lose weight.
Be realistic about recovery timesIsabel Thompson, a GP
“I wish that my patients could get three things right in 2018. The first is common sense. Be sensible about your symptoms – don’t google them and assume that a headache is brain cancer. Common sense also applies to the consideration you should give to purchasing wellness products. Remember that many things like herbal or vitamin supplements are supported by a massive marketing push. It’s fine to make your choices about what to take, but please make those choices with your eyes open about the fact that you are being marketed to.
“The second thing I’d like patients to move on from is the denial about how lifestyle and inactivity affects their outcomes. If their approach isn’t working and it’s making them unwell, they need to find a new approach – which usually involves a commitment to moderation.
“And finally, patients need to be realistic about recovery times. Colds and flu don’t clear up overnight and it can take a week to two weeks or even longer before you feel well again. Antibiotics do not fast-track recovery and are often not needed for common chest or upper respiratory tract infections.”
You don’t have to be perfect at everythingRuth Ancer, a clinical psychologist
“In 2018, I think that the best thing that adults can do for their mental health is learn to ask for help. They should plan for the time out that they need to rejuvenate and reflect. And they should remember that they don’t have to be perfect at EVERYTHING.
The best thing that adults can do for their mental health is learn to ask for help.
“For parents, I’d like them to help their kids accept that they don’t have to do what other kids do, and don’t have to have what other kids have. Parents need to help them understand that other kids’ opinions are no measure of whether they are good enough. They are enough just as they are.”
Find out what Ruth had to say about teaching your children to feel gratitude, and helping them to make friends.
Don’t do it alone Debbie Majoor, registered personal trainer
“I wish that my clients would stick with their training routines. Lots of them start well, but then life catches up with them and they start to make excuses. They don’t follow through, and they are not consistent. But fitness training isn’t a quick fix. It’s a long-term thing and you’ve got to stick with it or you won’t see results. And if you stop once you’ve seen results, you’re going to lose all the good work you’ve done.
“Something what really helps is using a personal trainer. Going to the gym without signing up with a trainer is like going to a university and not attending the lectures. A personal trainer will help you to create a fitness plan and stick to it, and to do the exercises right, so that you get the right combination of cardio and resistance, and you don’t end up hurting yourself.”
The bottom lineYou heard it from the experts. Use these tips to make 2018 your most healthy year ever - both in body and in mind.
