Now is the time to focus on your health and wellness; and exercise is a key component of that. Being more intentional about exercising will help you to develop a well-rounded fitness program that will make it possible for you to make truly impactful lifestyle changes for yourself.
Choosing a fitness program requires goal-setting and planning. Defining specific health and fitness targets in terms of what is impactful relative to physical and mental health gives you a clear purpose, whether it’s losing a specific amount of weight or competing in a race or just hitting the gym a precise number of times each week. Creating a solid plan to reach your goals is the next step; a plan helps you organize your time and choose the most useful fitness resources, so you can reach the level of health and wellness you desire. Getting started and being consistent is all that remains…but it’s also the heavy lifting—the most challenging part of the process. Why? Because it is dependent on your level of accountability.
Accountability is the key, most essential element of any fitness program. Taking responsibility for your health and fitness means committing to your plan; accountability is what provides incentive to stay committed, by binding you to the guidelines you establish for yourself and outline in your plan. Accountability is the reflection of your goals—and the consequences of giving up on them—that encourage you to keep moving forward.
So how can you build accountability into your fitness program? What steps should you take to really make it work? Read on for three epic but easy tips for increasing your workout accountability!
ACCOUNTABILITY TIP #1: Build a workout schedule.
It’s not all about the specific exercises you will do as you move through a fitness program. It is also important to set reasonable expectations for how much time you will allot for your workouts. This means scheduling the exact number of workouts you will do per week, and the specific amount of time you will spend completing them. Consult your calendar to find the days on which you have free blocks of time and write in your workouts! Scheduling your workouts will also help you track your progress.
ACCOUNTABILITY TIP #2: Find a workout buddy or two.
You are not alone in your desire to improve your health and fitness. Be on the lookout for likeminded people who you can invite to join you for workouts. Choose one person or a group with similar fitness goals and exercise interests; you can find others on a similar path by participating in exercise classes at a local fitness center or gym, joining a social club with exercise as the common denominator, or hiring a personal trainer who can introduce you to others on a similar health and wellness journey. Getting involved in things like this will increase your accountability on its own; but the people you meet will add another layer of accountability: the reciprocity of personal support and encouragement.
ACCOUNTABILITY TIP #3: Be prepared.
Pack your gym bag like you pack your backpack or briefcase. Put your gym shoes and clothes, towel, headphones, and any other essentials in your bag every night or every morning without fail, so you’re ready to go—whether you head to the gym, the trail, or the living room, you will be able to hit the ground running! You will be less inclined to skip a workout if you eliminate the excuse of not having time to get ready.
How to start exercising after a long time – Focusing on your health and wellness is so important. And including a fitness program in your life is part and parcel of maintaining good health. Purposeful consideration of the role of accountability is key to staying committed to any fitness program