Welcome to Wednesday Word, a weekly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. Each Wednesday you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is accountability…… I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Accountability – the quality or state of being accountable;
an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility
or to account for one’s actions
~ Merriam-Webster
Yes, my clients hire me to teach them new exercises, to talk to them about nutrition, to help them set and meet goals, to get them stronger, to make them faster, to help them lose weight and inches; but mostly they hire me to help them maintain accountability during the process.
If you think about it, accountability is the missing link to achieving many of our goals. It’s sometimes difficult to accept responsibility and own our actions – or lack thereof. With just a little effort, we can aspire to become more accountable, and therefore; more successful at reaching our goals.
Five ways to increase accountability in the gym or on the running trail:
- Set measurable goals
- Make goals a priority
- Schedule workout into your day and put it on your calendar
- Find a workout partner
- Reward short-term goals
Give these five tips a try, and see if you can increase your accountability factor.
How do you add accountability to your life?
Grab My Button!
Next Wednesday’s Word: Carefree
Many years ago I worked out with a personal trainer. I loved not having to think about my workouts, I loved being pushed harder – and yes, she did keep me accountable, too.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Accountability, People Pleasers & Getting it Done
Great to hear that you had a good experience with your personal trainer. 🙂
Great advice!
Telling people what I am doing hekps me to stay accountable and setting goals with dates.
Yes, sharing your goals with friends is another great way to hold yourself accountable.
I like to think that I don’t need anyone to keep me accountable…but the truth is that my coach makes me do things I wouldn’t do on my own. And that leads to results that I wouldn’t get by myself!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Staying on track
Awesome! 😀
Great tips! I keep myself accountable by having a training schedule/weekly workout schedule and keeping a running log. Having someone to meet up with and keeping a blog also really help! You are so right that accountability is often the missing link for achieving a goal. Sometimes it can be too easy to just let yourself off the hook, and forget about the big picture.
Meagan recently posted…Things that keep me accountable…
Oh yeah, the blog is another good one for keeping us accountable. Nobody wants to read a running blog written by someone who constantly blows off her runs (unless she’s really funny and takes that approach). 😀
I like the routine of my trainer and that fact that he pushes me but ultimately the accountability has to come from within me or it’s not sustainable or enjoyable.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Reset & Refocus September
True, but I’ve found that many people wouldn’t even take the first step without the accountability factor from an external source.
I like the idea of adding rewards for short term goals. I know that too many times I’m setting my sites on the big picture, but small milestones should be celebrated too!
Alison recently posted…Wednesday Words: Accountability
I think too many people lose sight if they don’t have short term goals to look forward to reaching. Sometimes the big picture is too far away. I have my clients set three-month, six-month, and one-year goals. Some people work better with goals set even closer in, so with them I have them set one-month, two-month, and three-month goals.
I think having small, real, and measurable goals has been key for me. Also, finding a way to track progress helps me stay focused on goals.
Michele @ A Pace of Balance recently posted…Wednesday Word: Accountability
Exactly – mini, real, and measurable…
I love the link up, but I have not been able to keep up with posting lately. I always think I would love to have a trainer to have someone to push me a bit, that is what I loved about group classes. A good instructor could get me to try things and do more than I would on my own 🙂
I wake up and put my running clothes before I go downstairs, once I am dressed I will do it, but if I go down I can easily get distracted…always get dressed first lol
Karen recently posted…Training is Rolling
That’s actually very good advice. It’s a lot easier to skip a workout if you’re not wearing your workout clothes reminding you that you still need to hit the gym or running trail. 🙂
I have a personal trainer. While I was intimidated at first by the whole gym thing, now I’m comfortable in he gym. Do I still have to have her to plan my workouts for me? No, not really in fact we plan them out together pretty much. I tell her when my races are and we work accordingly to that. Why then do I keep going to her? Well she is not only my trainer but my friend now and I enjoy catching up with her but also to keep me accountable. I will do everything possible to make sure I’m at the gym for my appointment with her!
Tricia@MissSippipiddlin recently posted…Accountability
Also thank you Debbie so much for this link up! We appreciate you! 🙂
Tricia@MissSippipiddlin recently posted…Accountability
Awww, thank you! I appreciate everyone who links up. 🙂
Sounds like you’re a dream client – someone willing to put in the effort, be an active part of the decision making while figuring out a plan of attack, and giving 100% at your workouts. I have clients like that, and they are delightful!
I did have a coach which kept me accountable. Now I am without a formal training plan but I still set general goals for myself in terms of races or events I want to do in the off-season just to keep me moving when busy life would otherwise get in the way.
Kelli recently posted…Woman Crush Wednesday – Sarah Talley
It’s good that you’re keeping a few goals to keep you motivated. I do that too when I don’t have races coming up.