Where there is stress, there are unhealthy coping strategies. Many of us have been under a lot of stress in this past year in one way or another and Addictive Behaviour experts Kate Baily and Mandy Manners are on a mission to help us reflect on our habits. Find out more and discover the addictive habits pocket guide in this new article.
A UK-wide survey by The Mental Health Foundation in May 2018 found “almost three-quarters of adults (74%) have at some point over the past year felt so stressed they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.”[1] and that was before we were in a global pandemic! Unfortunately, it is evident to most of us, that stress and overwhelm have become part and parcel of modern-day fast-paced living.
What does this have to do with Coaching and in particular Addictive behaviours coaching?
" What so often starts as an innocent habit, a coping strategy or a way to relax can become something entrenched in the day to day life of your clients and be increasingly difficult to stop."
Because where there is stress there are unhealthy coping strategies. Be it reaching for a glass of wine at the end of the day, scrolling on dating Apps, eBay shopping or gaming in this era of unprecedented stress and the trappings of quick fixes and technology people are increasingly developing problematic habitual behaviours.
Our brains are hardwired to create habits and seek rewards. This was helpful as primitive species to seek out food for example. We learnt that by hunting, we found food, with food, we felt satisfaction, and with satisfaction we would survive the winter – this is not so helpful nowadays when we get the same feedback from gambling!
The key is in our habits, in our minds and how we learn. Habits are formed to allow us to assimilate behaviour into our subconscious. We learn by repetition and this behaviour becomes automatic. This allows our brain space for more creative thinking.
Any habit has four steps: cue, craving, response, and reward. Again, very helpful for remembering to brush your teeth in the morning less helpful with the quick reward of a packet of biscuits!
This is why addictive behaviours can touch all people, at all ages, and why this growing niche of coaching is needed and highly sought after - be it explicitly or as part of a skillset in life or business coaching. What so often starts as an innocent habit, a coping strategy or a way to relax can become something entrenched in the day to day life of your clients and be increasingly difficult to stop.
"We have never before been in a global situation of such anxiety, stress and uncertainty for the future."
Moving into 2021 and beyond it is clear that addressing stress and burnout has to be a clear focus for businesses and individuals, not only from a wellbeing perspective but a productivity perspective too.
You can find similar statistics in all areas of our modern-day life: From CEO’s to teachers, care-workers to parents we are all feeling the stress. Young people’s mental health and stress levels are increasingly worrying too for both themselves and their parents.
As The Mental Health Foundation Director Isabella Goldie cites in the same research "Stress is a significant factor in mental health problems including anxiety and depression. It is also linked to physical health problems like heart disease, problems with our immune system, insomnia and digestive problems." This is further highlighted by statistics from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which reported “17.9 million working days lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2019/20.”
Working with clients as a Certified by The Coaching Academy - Addictive Behaviours Coach you can unlock what’s blocking them moving forward help them build their holistic toolkit for greater wellbeing, productivity and success in their goals.
As leadership expert John Maxwell says “You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” This applies both to the habits and behaviours that serve you (or your client) as to those habits and behaviours that do not.
In this taster session, you will receive valuable tools, techniques and acquire an understanding of how a specialism in Addictive Behaviours Coaching can enhance your Coaching business.
Following this session, you will also understand how Addictive Behaviours training can greatly enhance the performance, wellbeing and outcomes for your clients. This will give you the essential foundations required to build a new type of toolkit which will enable you to unlock the next layer of potential for your clients.
We have never before been in a global situation of such anxiety, stress and uncertainty for the future. Coaching in this area is vital for the future wellbeing of individuals, families and businesses. You can be part of the well-being revolution by learning the evidence-based tools to bring to your clients and your business.
ARE YOU SECRETLY ADDICTED?
CHECK-IN WITH OUR ADDICTIVE HABITS POCKET GUIDE
1) Awareness is key: Act like a detective and shine a light on your life for a week, on your routines and your habits.
2) Notice your feelings: if you become uncomfortable/stressed you do a particular thing, such as scrolling on your phone or reaching for a glass of wine.
3) Shake it up: Take a week off that behaviour and journal or record what comes up for you in that time. Is it easy? Difficult? Do you start justifying a behaviour? Be gentle and curious - this is not about shaming yourself, it’s about an enquiry into how you tick
4) Decide: Is this a healthy or unhealthy habit, is it something you need to put rules around, such as leaving the phone downstairs at night, or doing a yoga class instead of compulsively attempting a HIIT class despite feeling exhausted.
TOP TIP: Variety is the spice of life!
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