Calendar

MEETING CHALLENGES TO CHANGE HEALTH BEHAVIORS

Municipal clerks play a crucial role in local government by managing administrative tasks, facilitating communication, and ensuring the smooth functioning of their communities. Adopting strategies to promote healthier behaviors among municipal clerks can have several benefits.

Changing health behaviors can be challenging due to a variety of factors, including psychological, social, environmental, and physiological influences. Sometimes the reason is because ‘I do not want to.’ Even that justification will fall into at least one category of challenges. It might be that the person needing the change feels it is too much work or energy involved. One reason is that we get trapped by ‘thinking fallacies.’ A person may feel overwhelmed by trying to change a behavior that is viewed as “all-or-nothing thinking” (DiSalvo, 2017). This fallacy does not allow room for failure if we only meet some of the goals and therefore, we set ourselves up to quit trying. 

Here are some common challenges to changing health behaviors and strategies that this course will address:

1. Lack of Motivation: Challenge: Many individuals struggle with finding the motivation to change unhealthy behaviors, especially if the benefits aren't immediately apparent. Strategy: Set clear and achievable goals, focus on the benefits of behavior change (both short-term and long-term) and find personal reasons for making the change.
2. Habits and Routine: Challenge: Unhealthy behaviors often become ingrained habits that are difficult to break. Strategy: Gradually replace unhealthy habits with healthier alternatives, create a new routine that supports the desired behavior, and use reminders or triggers to prompt the new behavior.
3. Social Influence: Challenge: Peer pressure, family habits, and societal norms can make it difficult to change behaviors. Strategy: Seek support from friends, family, or a support group, communicate your goals to loved ones, and surround yourself with people who encourage and support your changes.
4. Emotional Factors: Challenge: Stress, boredom, and negative emotions can lead to unhealthy behaviors as a way of coping. Strategy: Learn healthier ways to cope with emotions, such as practicing mindfulness, engaging in physical activity, or seeking professional help if needed.
5. Lack of Knowledge: Challenge: Many people may not fully understand the health implications of their behaviors or may be misinformed. Strategy: Educate yourself about the benefits of behavior change, seek reliable sources of information, and consult with healthcare professionals to make informed decisions.
6. Time Constraints: Challenge: Busy schedules can make it challenging to prioritize healthy behaviors. Strategy: Plan and schedule time for healthy activities, break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps, and find time-saving strategies to incorporate healthy behaviors into your daily routine.
7. Environmental Barriers: Challenge: The physical environment can create obstacles to healthy behaviors, such as limited access to nutritious food or safe places to exercise. Strategy: Identify and address environmental barriers where possible, such as finding healthier food options, utilizing home workouts or advocating for community resources.
8. Lack of Support: Challenge: Trying to change behaviors without support from others can be tough. Strategy: Seek out support from friends, family, or professionals, join group programs or classes, and consider enlisting an accountability partner.
9. Unrealistic Expectations: Challenge: Setting overly ambitious goals can lead to frustration and a sense of failure. Strategy: Set realistic and achievable goals, track your progress, and celebrate small successes along the way.
10. Fear of Failure: Challenge: The fear of failing or relapsing can hinder progress. Strategy: Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities, focus on the positive changes you've made, and practice self-compassion and resilience.

By investing in the health and well-being of municipal clerks, local governments can create a more vibrant, productive, and resilient workforce that positively impacts the entire community.

Instructor: Rhonda Daley, MBA, MA, Health Psychology

Rhonda stands as a trailblazer, having spearheaded groundbreaking healthcare initiatives, pioneered innovative telehealth services, and formulated avant-garde behavioral health treatment protocols. In her capacities, Rhonda has held an instrumental role in steering the enterprise's evolution through astute decision-making, fostering a culture of operational excellence. A true visionary, she orchestrated the establishment and continuous refinement of business operations, having successfully founded and managed an esteemed outpatient facility in the heart of San Francisco. Here, she adeptly led a diverse team of psychologists, therapists, counselors, and administrators to new heights of success. 

Rhonda's academic prowess is equally formidable, garnering an MBA from the esteemed Peter Drucker Graduate School of Management in Claremont, CA, alongside a master’s degree in health psychology. Her unwavering commitment to progress finds recent expression in consulting, where she lends her expertise to guide a pioneering bioscience startup in mapping out the intricate provider network landscape during crucial clinical trials. 

Notably, Rhonda is also the visionary founder behind Nspireology Life Coaching, a transformative venture dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their innate potential and achieve unprecedented heights of personal growth. Through this platform, she brings her unique blend of strategic insight and compassionate guidance to uplift and catalyze lasting change in the lives of those she serves.