Short of hiring someone to follow me around and hype me up all-day every-day, I was recently in desperate need of accountability. Of course, wanting to change starts from within – but seeing other people achieve, modeling their behavior and following the strategies together are proven methods of success. Over the last 2+ years, I have found so much benefit in having accountability buddies along the way for lifestyle changes, career goals and developing healthier habits.
How Accountability Helps Me:
Over the weekend, I reflected on some of my fitness goals. I’ve introduced olympic lifting, toyed with the idea of triathlon training, focused on my nutrition and incorporated weekly dance classes since mid-December. After a series of particularly poor food choices and doom scrolling, I was feeling very…”meh.” I expressed this to my accountability partner who:
Validated that I wasn’t feeling my best
Identified the positive contributions I had made to my progress
Supported me, talked through some of my resistance, and dissipated the feelings of not-good-enough-itis.
My partner helped me set a goal for the remainder of the week, too, and reinforced the idea that I had made progress. She is an angel, and when I told her that she said,
“That’s what we’re here to do! Help each other stay on this path when we feel like the climb is too much! But all it is, is one step at a time.”
Seriously, an angel!
How to Find an Accountability Buddy:
When traversing my way though quit-lit and cyclic behaviors, I stumbled upon a group of women who enjoy the same music as me– who are also either aspiring or successful tee-totalers. I found this group on facebook of all places! Facebook is a great platform for connecting like-minded groups of people. I’ve found great fitness, Physical Therapist, pelvic health and creator community groups. Each of these brings something to the table in terms of accountability. For my sober-curious group, I find the resources (books, videos, inspirational quotes and success stories) to be hugely motivational. Occasionally, I’ll post my wins or something that has helped me along the journey, and, most recently, I have begun a check in 1:1 with a friend in that group. Motivating and connecting with her has been rewarding and a good reminder of the progress I have made over the last few years!
Group Fitness / Creating Routine
Love it or hate it, there’s something motivating about a class full of people who are ready to kick the work-out’s butt. I think that’s why all of us Hot Yoga Girlies are secretly running the world…shh. Creating routine and group fitness have been lumped together because, if you’re like me, I get something out of an instructor encouraging me with their loud music, dark rooms and the phrase, “TEN MORE SECONDS– PUSH!!!!!”
Options
Commit yourself to a schedule. WRITE IT DOWN. Your accountability is the $ you spent in signing up for class and the calendar notifications.
Commit to your instructor that you will see them weekly. They’ll be happy you did!
Find a pal in class and ask them to text you/you’ll text them to save you a treadmill or a spot in the studio.
Coaches
There are PLENTY of coaches out there for all different types of accountability. Whether it’s nutrition and fitness, mindset, career oriented, holistic health – you name it, someone’s developed a coaching program for it.
Warning: not all programs are going to be worth your money. NOT ALL COACHES ARE CREATED EQUAL. It is imperative you do the work to find a coach who genuinely cares about your success and goals. A lot of coaches are great salespeople, so trust your gut and find someone who aligns with what you need.
Ways to find a good coach: research the coach and their programs, look into their credentials, seek referrals, ask for 1:1 to see if you’re a good fit for each other, take a look at their offerings and see what value they bring to the table. Additionally, consider your budget and the term of coaching. Is this something you need long-term or do you see it as a stepping stone on your path to success? These will all influence the type of coach you may want to hire.
Friendships
The accountability partner from my earlier story is a great friend who I met in one of my coaching cohorts. We happen to be going through our coaching program for a second time and reconnected. Her and I have a twice weekly check in where we discuss our goals for the week and go over progress in our prior commitments. These conversations discuss the SMART components to short term goals for long term successes!
Other ways to make this work:
The Workout Group Chat - your friends text a picture of you at the gym or post-workout
The Gym Buddy - you’ve seen them every week for the last 2 months, they’re your informal accountability partner and you know it.
Ask your friend to help you out. Want a new job? Tell them to check in with you next week to see how you’re doing on the application process. Your friends want to see you succeed.
Everybody needs a hype- person to stay motivated and accountable, especially when striving for lifestyle changes, career goals, or healthier habits. Over the last couple of years, I’ve benefited greatly from having accountability partners—whether through fitness classes, online groups, or friends—who help validate my progress and push me through setbacks. Facebook groups, group fitness classes, your own calendar and even professional coaches are great resources for support. Even simple check-ins with friends can make a huge difference. Having someone to share your wins with and hold you to your commitments is an absolute key to long-term success.
Are you looking for accountability? Feel free to share in the comments or reach out if you need help finding the right fit by emailing me upsidedownphysio@gmail.com or connecting with me on instagram!
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