Do You Need An Accountability Partner?
So you're three months into the new year and you find yourself struggling with the fitness goals you set forth in December. You're lacking motivation and soon learning that you're consistently making excuses for why you're missing your mark. Well, there's a possibility that you may need an "Accountability Partner."
If you never heard the term before, an "Accountability Partner" is someone who has similar interests as your own and will help you stick to your goals. So let's say you're a runner training for a marathon and you have a 12-mile long run you're dreading this weekend. That partner can provide added motivation by joining your run. That partnered support will help curb the feeling of loneliness. What's great about an accountability partner is it could be a friend, acquaintance or stranger. I'll break that down for you.
The Friend: Not all of our friends are into fitness. But for those that are, you can draw inspiration from them and vice-versa. So whether you need a gym-mate or running partner, it's always a good idea to involve your friend and make it a group activity. On the days you're lacking motivation, a good friend will hold you accountable by making sure you're achieving your goals every step of the way.
The Acquaintance: This is the person that you may not be friends with, but see at the gym regularly or possibly during group runs. For introverts, I know this is tough, but I've built some of the most meaningful relationships by seeing the same faces in the gym every day and approaching them. From my experience, it started off with a warm greeting which evolved into sharing workout routines and nutrition tips. The great thing about the health and wellness realm is most people are willing to assist and looking for help themselves.
The Stranger: There are millions of people looking for accountability partners and don't know where to start. Fortunately, technology has assisted with that through the years. Apps like FitBit, MapMyFitness, and Garmin are all community based and have activity challenges that encourage group involvement. One of my favorite by FitBit is the "Workweek Hustle" where you and 20 FitBit users compete for the most amount of steps in a week. There's a level of accountability you're receiving from strangers because if you're competitive, their performance will not only influence but help motivate you to get your steps in for the week. There are also tons of forums like "Accountability Partnerhood" that are looking for people to help them stay motivated and reach their goals. Like anything else you find on the internet, be sure to do your research before committing and submitting your personal information.
By: Jay Denson