Accountability Time
Accountability time!
This has been a really common theme in recent client conversations..
When I ask people why they feel accountability helps, the usual answer is that they don’t like to let someone else down. It’s funny that letting ourselves down is often not enough and we need the external feedback from another person - but it’s so common that I think it’s important to use it to our advantage.
One of the easiest ways to keep yourself accountable is to find a friend!
You could physically (or virtually) take a class together - having a fixed time you need to show up can be really motivating. Or if you have different schedules or interests, you can agree to check-in with each other on the phone or by text when you have done your practice.
Or, hire someone to help - a trainer, coach or mentor. From personal experience, whatever I am trying to achieve, I always get there faster and with better results when I’ve been working with an expert in the field who really understands what is going on and can point out any blind spots I have.
I have one client that has told me how much more valuable it is to work with me than have a gym membership - despite the latter being cheaper, the accountability she gets from working with me is worth its weight in gold. She has me on hand to help her troubleshoot pains and niggles -either when a body part hurts or when a specific exercise doesn’t feel quite right. Over the time we’ve worked together she’s seen a steady improvement and trusts me to help guide her past any plateaus.
Another client really benefits from receiving text message “nudges” to keep her on track with her programme. Sometimes she responds with “done” and she gets a virtual high-five from me and other times life takes over and she doesn’t let me know; either way, it enables her to move forward and maintain the awesome work she is doing!
If you prefer to work alone, you can keep yourself accountable. Having a list or calendar showing your practice that you can physically tick off works really well - and each tick gives you a little dopamine hit! If you set it up on your phone it can give you reminders or a chart stuck on your fridge can help to keep your practice a priority.
Remember - regular movement is essential nourishment for your body in the same way as nutritious meals are, yet so often other things sneak to the top of the list. If you are experiencing aches and pains it might be worth thinking about the quantity, quality and variation of movement in your life,
I would love to know what is keeping you accountable at the moment! Do you have a trainer, a teacher, a friend or your phone? Let me know in the comments!
