Hey! Hey! Hey! Welcome back to my blog. I want to chat about something that has been a game-changer in my life – accountability. It’s not a word that usually gets people excited because, let’s be real. . .accountability sounds BORING, but trust me, once you see the magic it can work in your life, you’ll be just as smitten as I am.
Accountability isn’t about restriction or someone breathing down your neck. It’s about having a support system, a partner in crime, or even just a gentle nudge to keep you on track. So, why do I love accountability so much? Let me count the ways:
1. It Keeps Me Consistent: Every weekend I make an accountability post about my step count. That’s it. That is all I do. The feedback I get from just that one thing has kept me consistent. I KNOW people are watching. I KNOW people expect to see it on Sunday morning. Yeah, I KNOW it drives a few people nuts like “why do you do that?” “It’s annoying” “We get it. Just shut up about it already.” BTW – that last one started walking to increase her step count after a health scare. My posts were always there so when she had to do something, anything to change direction, she started walking. YES! Accountability reminds me of my goals and helps me stay consistent. A lot of times no one comments. But I know. I care. Occasionally it makes a difference for somebody else.
2. It Boosts My Motivation: Knowing that people are watching or that I have a goal to reach makes me want to push harder. It’s like having a personal cheerleader in my corner, encouraging me to give it my all. Anytime I’m working for a goal it gives me that extra something to make it happen.
3. It Helps Me Set and Achieve Goals: Yeah, this one has bitten me a couple of times. Be CAREFUL what you post you’re gonna do. I HAVE TO/NEED TO make the post about my goals and intentions when I’m highly motivated. It is hard to take it back…. “Sorry, I was just kidding about 100 weighted lunges at sunrise for 100 days.” Accountability encourages me to set specific, realistic and with measurable goals that I can easily share with my followers. It doesn’t have to be a fitness thing like I do. Once I want to try that Sardine Fast that was so popular. No, I’m not a fan of sardines, BUT I do love biohacking and I wanted to see the ketone and blood glucose numbers shift so it was a fun 3 days, and it was easier because I was taking photos of my creative plating of my sardine meals and tracking my numbers. It was easier with a crowd. But pick a personal project (fitness, career, project) and make an announcement on social media and ASK for accountability. Your tribe will help you get there.
4. It Provides Constructive Feedback: Accountability partners or mentors can offer valuable insights and feedback. My favorite so far in my fitness journey was my coach in Oregon, Tony. He could see things from a different perspective and helped me identify areas for improvement that I would have never figured out on my own. Another time my accountability partners were important to me was when I started marathoning years ago. At first it seemed like too big of a thing, but I trained with the same group of women for months. They taught me about pacing, shoes, nutrition and mostly how to have fun. We did a 1/2 marathon together which was a great learning experience, then most of us did the Portland Marathon later that year in a rain storm. We needed each other with that rain. We cheered each other on, supported each other, had extra snacks we could hand off to each other. Together we did it. WE were a TEAM! Getting and providing feedback is a great way to get stronger, faster and better.
5. It Makes Celebrating Successes Even Sweeter: It makes those personal records and the WAHOO moments better. All of you make those moments better. You add a layer of satisfaction that makes me feel good. It’s like a mini celebration that keeps me motivated to keep going.
6. It Reduces Procrastination: No, I do not always want to go get in my steps. This past summer was rainier than normal so the bug population was difficult. They were biting through clothes! So going out for a walk was not relaxing at all. It was stressful, sweating, and buggy, and sometimes muddy, too. BUT I had a goal so I figured out how to get in my steps, best times to walk, did my sprinting on the buggier days, treadmill mileage sometimes, and even going to large warehouse shopping places to walk there. My fitness matters to me, so I figured out how to make it happen. Knowing I have this weekly post to make keeps me focused and productive.
7. Trust and Connection: Even though I’m working on my own most of the time I know others will see what I’m doing. I know others are looking to me for encouragement or even my consistency. I get comments about those things. That connection is invaluable to me. It is supportive in a “2-way street” sort of way. I did learn that I need to share the struggles I have, too, as those comments of “it is so easy for you” do tend to come at me a lot. Seeing that I struggle, too, that it isn’t always easy for me either matters. Being real. Being honest masters. And it make celebrating the victories better because we all know “it was not easy for any of us”. These times can be incredibly rewarding and even lead to friendships.
I am all for the power of accountability. Whether it is a workout buddy, a mentor, an online coach, or an accountability group, use it. It’s a valuable tool to keep you going.
If you haven’t used the tool of accountability yet, I encourage you to give it a try. You might be surprised by the positive impact it can have on your fitness and nutrition goals.
