COVID-19 Proves It: We Must Change Our Habits
It always bothers me when I hear the adage that ‘people don’t change.’ It’s not true. Human beings are extremely adaptable when we need to be, and change can happen quickly based on the situation. Want proof? Just look at the COVID-19 pandemic and how many of our habits it has transformed. We’re capable of changing our behavior to protect our health and the health of others.
I’ve long advocated that the future of health care is prevention through healthy habit change, so I often hear variations on the theme of “Promoting healthy lifestyles is too hard — people just don’t change their behavior.” And it’s true that many individuals try and fail to change certain habits by setting unrealistic expectations (smoking cessation and weight loss are booming industries for a reason). Still, it’s easier than many people believe.
Some of our new habits — social distancing, mask-wearing, increased hand hygiene — are specific to coronavirus and will disappear quickly once the crisis recedes. Behavior changes that represent an acceleration of a trend already in progress — increased online shopping, use of telemedicine, more videoconferencing — will likely remain, to a greater or lesser degree.
Then there are the lifestyle changes that reflect the very personal ways we all experience our pandemic bubble. Some people started exercising more, and others became more sedentary. Some learned to cook more nutritious meals; others ate more junk food. Working from home gave some individuals more time to relax (no lengthy commutes), but others grew more stressed (no child care). Some enjoyed more quality family time while sheltering at home, while others became isolated. As we gradually emerge into the post-COVID world, it’s up to all of us to decide which of our new habits we want to maintain and which we want to leave behind.
It’s also a moment of reckoning for health insurers, as investing in the health and well-being of employees, members, and citizens take on a new urgency — bringing lifestyle and behavior into focus.
Addressing the tsunami of chronic disease
Health insurers are already bracing for a surge in health care costs (due to conditions associated with weight gain, mainly) arising from the negative habits their members have acquired over the past year. Many of the most common and costly chronic diseases are lifestyle diseases, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and many types of cancer. Considering that 80% of the U.S. population already had at least one risk factor for chronic disease before the pandemic, can we get ahead of the coming waves of illness?
We can make a concerted effort to help people develop healthier habits — and it’s not as difficult as it seems. We don’t give enough credit to people being able to change — tapping into the intrinsic motivation of the people at risk and the combined power of people and the right support to inspire and motivate individuals to become the engine of their own growth.
Primary prevention around nutrition, exercise, and mental wellbeing isn’t first and foremost about education (though some of that may be needed); it is about meeting people where they are and giving them the confidence and motivation to make gradual lifestyle changes that they can sustain and build on over the long term. There are no magic bullets or quick fixes. Healthy habit change is an aspiration and a lifelong journey that requires commitment. Unfortunately, we live in an instant-gratification culture that bombards us with subliminal messages that can sabotage our efforts.
Taking a highly personal approach
Successful habit change requires two key factors above all: (1) a one-size-fits-one approach that designs plans around each individual’s unique needs, personality, genes, and preferences and that addresses whole-person health (physical, mental and emotional), and (2) a strong support structure, with both human and tech elements, to provide accountability and motivation until new habits take root, stack and lead to better health.
Urban legend says it takes 21 days to form a new habit, but the reality is more complex. According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, anywhere from 18 to 254 days (66, on average) are needed for a new behavior to become automatic, depending on a range of variables, including both the type of habit being formed and the personality of the individual trying to form it. How long did it take you to adopt new habits during COVID-19?
This variation means there’s no single approach that will work for all of a company’s employees. Each individual will need help setting their own small, realistic, achievable goals that build toward longer-term objectives. Each person will respond to different kinds of rewards and feedback based on their personality and past experiences. Everyone will need unique reminders to make sure they’re intentional about their choices and don’t unconsciously slip back into bad habits. Technology can tip the scales through personalization, but the importance of a human connection can’t be overlooked: there will be ups and downs along the journey, and everyone needs someone in their corner to provide inspiration, guidance, and accountability.
The COVID-19 wake-up call
COVID-19 has reinforced the connection between behavior and health outcomes, and it has also demonstrated to us that we can, in fact, change our habits fairly dramatically, given the right motivation, ability, or prompting. Sustaining our wellbeing is a driving force for positive change. We must seize on that knowledge and act. To borrow a phrase from the early pandemic days, we need to bend the curve. Waiting until at-risk individuals develop full-blown chronic disease and then attempting to manage that disease through medical care will involve massive costs — not to mention the unnecessary loss of personal well-being. Interrupting that trajectory by investing in workforce habit change will keep employees healthier and drive cost savings that grow over time.
