THE TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS! 
(AND HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN CAPITALIZE ON THEM)

Every year the most popular New Year's Resolutions are to LOSE WEIGHT and GET FIT.  As health care professionals, we have a unique opportunity to help people make these dreams become reality.

The top ten New Year's Resolutions year in and year out (and tips on how you can capitalize on them):

1. Lose Weight: A survey by a leading market research firm revealed that 62% of adults and 34% of children are overweight.  As health care professionals we are in a position to guide our clients toward a weight loss program that combines a healthy and balanced diet with an appropriate exercise program. Use this time of year to offer FREE nutritional assessments and education.  Many adults do not have a healthy diet and simple education can go a long way in the creation of a healthy lifestyle. Our clients want results and nothing will speed weight loss like the combination of a healthy diet and exercise. You will make a client for life if you can have success on both of these fronts and we all know that HAPPY CLIENTS ARE YOUR BEST REFERRAL SOURCES.

2. Get Fit: Many of your clients are focused on "getting fit".  By taking the time to discuss your client's goals, and  listening to their concerns, you will be able to tailor your program to meet their needs. Offer a free consultation, and during that time create a list of your client's goals with a documented plan on how you can help them achieve those goals. Your clients are not interested in you, they want to know what you can do for THEM.

3. Stop Smoking: Everyone knows how harmful smoking is to your health and the health of others. As health care professionals we are in a unique position to detail the health risks associated with smoking, which include heart disease, cancer, and the slowed healing of wounds and bony disorders (direct your clients to www.lungusa.org for more information on health risks and support for those trying to quit). By taking an interest in your clients total health picture, you will demonstrate that you truly care about the health of your clients. This will lead to a happier client (and one that lives longer!) and an excellent source of future business.

4. Stop Drinking: By taking a sound and complete history, and listening to your clients, you will find that there are many ways that you can help your client achieve their personal health and fitness goals.  Alcoholism is a disease that can affect many stages of a person's life. By identifying a problem and guiding your clients in the right direction, you can play an important role in the recognition of a problem and the start them down a path to recovery.  An excellent resource is the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

5. Get Out of Debt: You may not be able to directly help your clients with this unless you are a financial advisor on the side, but the current state of our economy will make free and deeply discounted offers that much more enticing to potential clients. It will also be important for you to identify low cost and even free methods of advertising. Free marketing does exist, you just need to know where to find it.  An excellent resource to learn more about low cost marketing options is Jay Conrad Levinson's book, Guerrilla Marketing.
 
6. Get Organized: We all need a little of this. Send yourself or your clients to www.wikihow.com for information.
 
7. Spend more time with family: A proven way to improve your happiness and decrease your stress levels. Dedicate specific times and days for family activities and treat them like your most important meetings, do not break them or reschedule them for any reason.
 
8. Learn something new: KEEP YOUR CLIENTS GUESSING. Don't let them get stuck in a rut. Challenge them, make your treatments fun. You will notice improved outcomes and compliance, which is always good for your bottom line.

9. Volunteer/Help others: Organize a group of your clients or co-workers to volunteer for a worthy community cause. Help promote an event for a good cause, or be a sponsor.  Volunteer to provide support at an athletic event in your community. All of these things will increase your visibility in your community and improve your reputation. Can you say FREE marketing?

10. Eat Healthier: Educate and guide your clients in the art of making healthy choices.  Eating healthy is not difficult but it does take knowledge, planning, and dedication. Point your clients to the American Heart Association to learn more about the basics of eating healthy.

Now get out there and start putting these ideas into motion today. You only have a few weeks before people forget about their yearly resolutions and return to their old habits. GOOD LUCK!