If you’ve ever set a health or fitness goal for yourself, you already know just how difficult it can be to tick them off! So when your partner tells you they want to focus on their mental or physical health, it’s natural to want to step in and give them as much support as possible.
That being said, it can also be quite difficult to try and apply this level of practical help. After all, you can’t do a workout for them, and you certainly can’t take on responsibilities that leave you with a much heavier mental load!
If you’re finding you’re stuck in between these two modes of thinking, we’re here to help. Here are three things you can try to support your partner with healthy lifestyle changes, no matter what they want to try and achieve.
Ask Them What They Need
Don’t leave yourself searching in the dark. Get your partner to tell you what it is they need from you during this time. Only then can you say yes or no to the support they’re requesting.
Otherwise you’ll be trying everything single thing you can think of, using up a lot of time and energy, and your partner may not recognise the support you’re trying to give them. Asking them first gives you something actionable you can work with, and you can go from there as a team.
Hold Their Hand
OK, so you don’t need to literally hold their hand, but a bit of moral support goes a long way. If your partner is taking on a health challenge that’s left them feeling less than confident, take the steps with them.
Be there when they’re ordering over the counter medication from somewhere like kamagra-apotheke.com. Depending on the medication they’re after, this could make them very nervous and self conscious.
If they need to see a doctor and they don’t want to go to the appointment alone, give them a lift, walk in with them, and sit through the appointment by their side. Really, just let your physical presence be a reminder that they’re not alone in these tense, unsure moments.
Hold Them Accountable
Support isn’t just validation or hand holding. It’s also being a bit of a taskmaster (even in a gentle and assuring way), when you see your partner doing something that goes against the goal they’ve set or the doctor’s orders.
Holding them accountable helps to ensure that they don’t slip back into bad habits, whether these are mental or physical. It may not feel like support in the moment, and you may get accused of ‘nagging’ every so often, but it’s an important part of the process.
Speak up at those times when you know your partner needs to hear the truth, and use compassion to deliver the message in a way they’ll receive positively.
Changing your lifestyle is a bit like climbing a mountain. It’s tough and takes energy, but it’s easier with someone by your side.