Stop Googling Your Way to Wellness (Here's What Actually Works)

Three years ago, I was that person who had seventeen different meditation apps on my phone and had never actually used any of them for more than two days straight.

You know the type, right? I could tell you exactly how many hours of sleep I should be getting, which superfoods would transform my energy levels, and why I needed to establish morning routines. I had Pinterest boards full of meal prep ideas and bookmarked articles about stress management.

Yet somehow, I was still ordering takeout at 9 PM while stress-scrolling Instagram instead of doing that yoga routine I'd promised myself I'd start "tomorrow."

Sound familiar?

Here's what I wish someone had told me back then: The problem wasn't that I needed more information. The problem was that I needed help bridging the gap between knowing and doing.

The Wellness Coach Reality Check

Let me be straight with you — when most people hear "wellness coach," they either think it's some crystal-waving, essential-oil-pushing situation, or they assume it's just another person who's gonna tell them to drink more water and go to bed earlier.

Both assumptions are wrong (mostly).

A wellness coach — and I'm talking about the legit ones here, not your cousin's neighbor who got certified online over a weekend — is basically someone who helps you figure out why you keep sabotaging your own best intentions.

They're not there to give you another meal plan you won't follow or another morning routine that'll last exactly three days. Instead, they help you understand what's actually getting in your way and work with you to find solutions that fit your actual life.

Not your ideal life. Not the life you think you should have. Your actual, messy, complicated, beautiful life.

Why We Keep Failing (Spoiler: It's Not Willpower)

Here's something the wellness industry doesn't want you to know: Most people fail at healthy habits not because they lack willpower, but because they're trying to implement advice that wasn't designed for their specific situation.

Think about it. That morning routine you saw on TikTok? It was created by someone who doesn't have your job, your family situation, your energy levels, or your particular brand of chaos. Yet somehow we expect it to work for us exactly the same way.

I learned this the hard way when I tried to implement a 5 AM workout routine while working 60-hour weeks and dealing with chronic insomnia. Guess how long that lasted? Exactly as long as you think it did.

The thing is, most of us are pretty smart. We know what we "should" be doing. We know vegetables are good for us and that stress is bad. We know we need to move our bodies and prioritize sleep.

But knowing and doing are two completely different things.

What Makes Wellness Coaching Different

Here's where wellness coaching gets interesting (and where it differs from just hiring a nutritionist or personal trainer).

A wellness coach looks at the whole picture. Not just what you're eating or how often you're exercising, but everything: your work stress, your relationships, your sleep patterns, your mental health, your living situation, your financial stress, your family dynamics — all of it.

Because here's the truth: you can have the perfect nutrition plan, but if you're dealing with chronic stress at work, it's probably not gonna stick. You can have an amazing workout routine planned, but if your sleep is garbage, you're not gonna have the energy to follow through.

Wellness coaches help you see these connections and work with them instead of against them.

For example, when I work with clients who want to eat better, we don't start with meal planning (gasp!). We start by looking at when and why they tend to make food choices they regret.

Is it because they're starving by 3 PM because they skipped breakfast? Is it because they're emotionally drained after dealing with difficult coworkers? Is it because they never learned how to cook and feel overwhelmed by the whole process?

Once we figure out the real issue, we can actually address it instead of just slapping another "eat more vegetables" bandaid on it.

The Certification Question (AKA How to Avoid Wellness Coach Wannabes)

Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Technically, anyone can call themselves a wellness coach. Your mailman could decide tomorrow that he's a wellness coach and start charging people for advice.

This is... not ideal.

But here's the good news: there are legitimate certification programs out there, and they matter. Look for coaches who've been certified through programs approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). These programs actually teach behavior change science, not just "here are 47 ways to boost your energy."

The difference is huge. A properly trained coach understands why change is hard and has actual tools to help you work through resistance, setbacks, and all the other fun stuff that comes up when you're trying to change ingrained habits.

What to Actually Expect (Managing Your Expectations)

Let me set the record straight on what wellness coaching is and isn't:

It's not magic. You're still gonna have days where you choose Netflix over the gym. You're still gonna sometimes stress-eat your way through a bag of chips. This is normal human behavior, not failure.

It's not therapy. While a good coach will help you explore patterns and motivations, they're not equipped to help you work through trauma or clinical mental health issues. (And they should refer you to appropriate professionals if those things come up.)

It is support. Having someone who understands behavior change can be incredibly helpful when you're trying to figure out why your best-laid plans keep going sideways.

It is accountability. But not the harsh, shame-based kind. More like having someone who helps you stay honest with yourself about what's working and what isn't.

It is customization. A good coach helps you figure out what actually works for YOUR life, not what works for the person they worked with last week.

The Questions You Should Ask

If you're thinking about working with a wellness coach, here are some questions that'll help you figure out if they're the real deal:

About their training: "What certification program did you complete? Is it NBHWC approved?" (If they get defensive or vague about this, run.)

About their approach: "How do you typically work with clients who've tried to make changes before but struggled to stick with them?" (You want someone who understands that you're not broken, change is just hard.)

About expectations: "What does success look like in your programs?" (Be wary of anyone who promises dramatic transformations or uses before/after photos as their main selling point.)

About support: "How do you help clients work through setbacks?" (Because there will be setbacks, and you want someone who knows how to help you navigate them.)

Starting Your Own Search

Here's the thing — working with a coach isn't right for everyone, and that's okay. Some people do better with DIY approaches, some prefer working with other types of professionals, and some just aren't in a place where coaching makes sense.

But if you're someone who's tired of the cycle of starting and stopping, who wants support figuring out what works for your particular situation, or who just wants someone in your corner while you figure this stuff out, it might be worth exploring.

A few practical steps:

Start with your goals. Not what you think your goals should be, but what you actually want. Better sleep? Less stress? More energy? Clearer about what matters to you and what doesn't? Get honest about what you're hoping to change.

Consider your budget. Good coaching isn't cheap, but it shouldn't break the bank either. Many coaches offer different price points or payment plans.

Trust your gut. You want someone who feels like they get it, who doesn't make you feel judged, and who seems genuinely interested in helping you figure out what works rather than pushing a specific agenda.

And remember — this doesn't have to be perfect. You're not looking for the perfect coach or the perfect program or the perfect plan. You're looking for good enough, sustainable support that helps you move forward.

The Real Talk Conclusion

Look, I'm not gonna lie to you. Working with a wellness coach isn't gonna magically solve all your problems or turn you into one of those people who meal preps on Sundays and never misses a workout.

What it might do is help you understand why you do what you do, give you some new tools for working with your brain instead of against it, and provide support while you figure out what sustainable wellness actually looks like for you.

And honestly? Sometimes that's exactly what we need to finally stop googling "how to stick to healthy habits" at 2 AM and start actually living the life we want.

The information is out there. The question is: are you ready to get some help actually using it?

What's one wellness goal you've been struggling to make stick? Hit me up in the comments — let's talk about what's actually getting in your way.