You know that taking care of yourself by eating a diet full of whole food nutrition and crushing your workouts will set you on the right path to reach your wellness goals. But what happens when motivation wanes or the day goes sideways? You know you are being pulled in a million different directions, the car is on the fritz, and you forgot to unfreeze the chicken? On these days, it’s easy to decide to say, “Forget it!” You choose to skip your workout and speed dial for pizza. 

Unless…

you have accountability. 

An October 2020 study by the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science at Drexel University showed participants who had an accountability system set-up after their 12-week program successfully maintained their results. The other group without accountability lost traction towards their goals. 

Even if we learn everything we need to know, if we are left up to do it on our own, we can easily let old habits creep back in when life gets in the way. 

It takes time and effort to change habits that build a sustainable lifestyle. Even with the best of intentions, we might find ourselves floundering without something or someone to hold us accountable.

This is why we need accountability! Accountability works because you communicate to yourself and others that your goals are a priority. It is way too easy to give up on goals if you’ve never shared them. It’s like your goals don’t even exist!

So how do we get accountable? 

1.  Write your goals down. For some people, outlining goals on paper is enough to find success. Journaling about your goals daily can keep them top-of-mind. And creating checklists, habit trackers, or even sticky note reminders may help keep you on track towards your goals. 

2. Tell someone! Share your goals with someone who will ask you about your goals, encourage you, and help you celebrate when you achieve them. An ideal accountability buddy is someone who will encourage you without judgment and give you some tough love reminders when you feel like quitting.

3. Join an accountability group. Life isn’t meant to be done alone! Surrounding yourself with like-minded people will increase your ability to stick with your new habits. They say we are the average of the five people we are around the most. Accountability groups are great for sharing goals, brainstorming obstacles, and celebrating wins. 

4.  Hire a coach. A good coach will help you clarify your goals, establish timelines, identify strategies that work, and share ideas for overcoming obstacles. Your coach will be your biggest cheerleader and won’t let you give up on yourself. 

There’s no need to worry about lack of motivation! You can set yourself up for success with a bit of accountability.