Let’s face it: Many of us have excellent intentions, but poor follow-through. We have aspirations and goals that we want to achieve … but something gets in the way (or we make excuses): We get busy at work, something crops up at home, or we just plain forget. Then we get frustrated, and the whole cycle starts again. Consider this question: Do you find that you’re more likely to reach a goal when you’re the one motivating yourself, or if you have someone else to do it with or answer to? If it’s the latter, that’s fine – find that person whom you can count on as your accountability partner and watch yourself meet your goals.
- Exercise. Athletes often do their best when they know they have to answer to a coach … it’s much harder to run those four miles when nobody else is watching or asking how they did. There’s a reason why so many exercise groups exist online – when you have to report to someone else, even if they’re also reporting back to you about what exercises they did, that accountability often motivates more than simply putting something on a chart for yourself. And when you’re feeling tired, your partner will help spur you into action. Studies show that people exercise more regularly when they have to report to someone else, even if it’s just a friend.
- Eating healthfully. In the same vein, people who try to eat better have the most success when they have some sort of accountability partner or group. Whether it’s writing down what they ate and emailing it, or having a texting partner whom they can contact when the cravings hit to encourage them to make good choices, “group” healthy eating helps everyone involved stay on track. Plus with a partner you can share healthy recipes and websites, as well as what worked best in certain situations (eating out, tailgates, birthdays) to make good eating decisions.
- Breaking a bad habit. Your accountability partner doesn’t only act as a cheerleader, they give you honest feedback and boost you up when you need it, knowing when you need a supportive shoulder or a good kick in the pants. If you’re trying to break yourself of procrastination, for example, you need to find someone who’s either conquered it themselves or whom you admire for always acting with purpose. Breaking yourself of an ingrained habit isn’t easy, and you’ll have times when you backslide or forget. Your accountability partner can remind you of your goal, your triggers and how to avoid them, and your accomplishments.
Your goal may be yours, but you don’t have to achieve it alone. You’ll have achieved just as much if you have help, and an accountability partner or group may even help you reach your goals faster.
Read our related health and wellness posts or reach out to our experienced staffing team at Medical Professionals today!
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