If I asked you if eating healthy foods was important, you would say, “Of course.” right? And if I asked whether exercise is vital for health and wellness, you would most likely respond with a yes. So if we know that nutrition plus fitness is the magic formula for living a vibrantly healthy life, what can we do to ensure we stay consistent and practice these healthy habits?
Often the first tool we turn to when looking for accountability is a friend. We seek someone out and make a pact to achieve some new goal. This is a great way to get you started on your health and fitness path.
These ‘accountabilibuddies’ work because we know that person is counting on us as much as we are on them. The stakes are higher when you’re running the risk of letting someone else down.
The next step to level your accountability is joining a gym like CrossFit Vernon. At CrossFit Vernon, we have a framework of accountability to help those wanting to get started or stay going. We send reminders, check-in, acknowledge you every time you walk through the door, high-five, follow up, and celebrate with you each time you reach a milestone.
You even have a huge network of accountabilibuddies to lean on and help in supporting their own path to consistency.
Now, here’s where the truth hurts a little bit: Ultimately, you are the one responsible for your own actions and habits. Even with all the support in the world, it might still be hard to stay accountable to your goals.
So, here are 10 tips for holding yourself accountable to your goals:
1. Engage in the community. Every day you are surrounded by the best community anyone could ask for. Try introducing yourself to someone new, come on a Saturday, or get interested in the whiteboard.
2. Reserve all your classes at the beginning of the week and block time off in your calendar. Committing to appointments in advance makes us more likely to attend.
3. At the end of class, tell a coach or friend when your next class will be. By putting your intentions out there, you have created an expectation that you will want to follow through on.
4. Print off a calendar, hang it in a visible spot and write out all the habits you will do that week. Start with the big ones like scheduling your workouts and planning meals. Then fill in the gaps with things like mobility or relaxation. If you plan ahead, you will have a much higher likelihood of success.
5. Share your bright spots! Every Friday is Bright Spot Friday. Let’s hear your wins from the week. It can be fitness related or from the other parts of your life. I love sharing updates about my sports outside of the gym and my growing son, Maverick.
6. Start keeping a log or using an app to track your progress. Having objective goals and measures of progress can help keep you motivated.
7. Set quarterly goal-setting sessions with a coach. We are professionals and are here to help. Reach out to a coach to get some help with goal setting or habits to keep you accountable.
8. Have a strong ‘Why’. It could be for your mental health, to keep up with your kids that seem to have taken off in the last couple of years, or as something supplemental to help you enjoy your life with vitality. Whatever your ‘Why’ is, let it keep you focused on the bigger picture when it comes to consistency.
9. Be patient with yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect every day or week. Consistency over time is key.
10. Practice the half-way to half-way method. Set a half-way point for your goal and then another half-way point. Celebrate those half-way points as mini successes. Use these successes to treat yourself to something nice like a massage or dinner. Having these small goals that are closer is easier to get motivated for.
There are many other ways to keep yourself accountable, so find what works for you. Something that worked once might not work forever—switch things up often to stay excited and motivated about your success.
If you need help getting started with your goals for 2023, book a free Goal Setting Session with one of the coaches HERE.
