One of the most effective ways to develop a new discipline is to hold yourself accountable in some way. Tell people what your plan is. Line someone up to check in on you and make sure you are doing what you say you are. We are often more accountable to others than we are to ourselves. I’d like to change that at some point for all of us but for now let’s make it work for us.
The reason people who work out with a trainer are more successful with their workouts is because they actually show up. You are far less likely to not show at an appointment with someone as if you just have to decide on your own to hit the gym. I’m not telling you to get a trainer, although it’s a fantastic investment if you can afford it, but to act like you do. Is there someone you can check in with once you get to the gym? Shoot a text to let that person know you are there. Someone who will ask why they haven’t gotten a text from you on your scheduled day?
Just telling people what you plan to do is a form of accountability. I feel like I have to stay committed to my 30-day challenge partly because I don’t want to fail in front of you guys. I put it out in the universe and now it’s up to me to see it through. The fact that I talk about it every single day helps keep me motivated and on track. You guys are keeping me accountable, so thanks!
It has to be something that’s important to you though. You will never commit to something that you don’t believe in. So, make sure it’s something you really want to follow through on. There will be times you don’t want to do it. There will times that you will want to throw in the towel completely. It’s going to be so hard at times. But this is when the discipline comes in. There is no decision. It’s what you do…no matter how hard it is. No matter how much you don’t feel like it on this day. You do it anyway, because you made a commitment to yourself and possibly others. You did it for a reason. You wanted change in your life. You wanted to be better. You still do. Show up for yourself.
There is someone in my life who says she wants to stop hitting the snooze button. She hasn’t done it yet. I asked about it the first few days and then she started putting me off when I did. So, I figure she has given up. I know she still wants to kick the habit. But she is finding it too hard. It’s just like any other bad habit you are trying to give up. Yes, it’s hard. Of course it is. If you’ve ever been a smoker you know how hard it is to give that up. You have to commit to the bigger picture. You have to commit to the results you know will come in the future. The day you are confident in saying that you are a non-smoker. It’s the same with any other habit. Yes, it does suck when you want to hit that snooze button the first few mornings…it may even last for weeks. But the benefits far outweigh the struggle you go through at first. Once you don’t have to battle yourself every morning on which time to get out of bed…you will never be sorry you went through the work to get to that point.
You know yourself better than anyone. How much accountability do you need in your life? This is why people still join weight loss programs. The weekly weigh in is a way to hold yourself accountable. A friend of mine just started a nutrition program that has her tracking her meals. She has cut down from three glasses of wine to one merely because she doesn’t like writing down those two additional glasses. As she described it, I’ll have one at the end of the workday to celebrate that, then I’ll have a glass with dinner and sometimes another one while watching t-v later in the night. She said it’s over a number of hours so it’s not like she’s getting drunk and she doesn’t think it’s a big deal but just the act of having to write it down is making her pause. She’s being accountable. Will something that simple work for you? (personally, I would need more accountability than that. I just wouldn’t write down the last two!)
Make your goals known. Shout them out to the world. It gives you that much more accountability. It will spur you to keep up the good fight. It will keep you motivated and you will be inspiring others at the same time! There is a lot of power in just saying your goals out loud.
It is “I wish it were cocktail Friday” Thursday. One more day to the weekend! We can do this! Think about the people in your life who will hold you accountable. And start crushing it. Now, go make today, your best day yet!
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