Be Accountable

 

Be Accountable

Gavin & Stacy has given us many a famous quote that we can all recite…..Doris is one of mine favourite characters and I often have these words in my head

“I haven’t done it, I’m not doing it, End off.”

“Why?”

“because I CBA”

In my head, I want to do a TikTok to these words, but throwing the gym equipment down on the floor – and I might even get around to that one! But TBH, how many of us know we “should” exercise, but CBA (ask a teenager if you don’t know what this means..)

Psychology for me is always a strong driver for exercise, and I know I have told you of my Personal Training frustrations where people will pay the money, spend the hour with me, but then do nothing in between. It drove me to do my degree to find out the workings of the mind. Now, 15 years later, I feel that I am getting there in terms of finding the “motivation” to exercise. Firstly, trying to find a “feeling” to push you forward when you CBA is a long road to nowhere. Same as standing in front of a mirror and telling yourself how “bad” you look. These are all sticks. You can of course beat yourself with this kind of stick for a while, but there is only so much “punishment” we can stand or be bored by.

Recently, I have moved towards “being accountable” as a way to implement health and fitness changes. I love the fact that you have to own up to what you have done. To understand that really, you are the only person who is able to help change things, and only because you want it, and not because you feel you “have to” or someone else wants you to.

Accountability starts usually by declaration. This can be to yourself by setting out a weekly flexible plan and working out ways in which you can put in some exercise or have a day of eating healthy etc.  Like all declarations, public announcement of it does usually keep us on our toes as people ask how we are doing. But in lockdown, where you may not leave your house or speak to many people, this is easier to hide. However, there is still merit is telling someone other than yourself -or even making a pact with a friend to go along the journey together.

Here are my top 5 tips to start being accountable:-

1.       Make a new plan Stan

a.       Write down everything you have to do each week – no matter how small the commitment.

b.       Write down the fav TV shows that you want to watch or any other “date” (LOL) you may have that week.

c.       Work out which days have the least commitments

d.       Work out which days are your favourites

e.       Write down all your dreams and fantasies for your “perfect” world

f.        Write a list of all your favourite songs

2.       No need to be coy Roy:

a.       Eg “this week I am going to walk 10,000 steps 3 times a week”

b.       Write one for exercise, one for food (This week I am going to increase the amount of green food I eat) and then one for your mental health (This week I am going to pay attention to what is around me on my walk)

3.       Tidy up

a.       Sort out a workout space for you that has everything together in a neat pile

b.       Make sure that you have to see or walk past this each day

c.       When ever the moment takes you, try a quick 5-10 minutes of exercise, you could just get your mat out and do 25 sit ups, or just to 25 squats  - no need to change

d.       Have you workout gear all together  - socks, shoes, leggings, top, hairband if you need one, deodorant and a bottle of water. – Any of these items missing and you will often lose the will…

4.       Own it

a.       Positive action requires positive thoughts

b.       Keep going, good effort, that’s the way to do it   - are far better statements to inspire you rather than the demotivating – this is hard, I can’t do it, I am so unfit

c.       Talk to yourself as if you are selling something – sell the good points, the positive. Think like an estate agent selling a house or a car sales man

d.       Photos help -  not immediately, but when you then put them up a week later. Keep a record.

5.       Hop on the bus, Gus:

a.       Start your journey, one week at a time.

b.       Change your plan every week

c.       Be accountable for the days where you did not meet your plan – what was the reason, what can you do to stop that happening again, can you change things around to make it easier to do?

d.       Be flexible  - anywhere between flawless and failure is acceptable, and doing less is better than doing nothing.

e.       Start each day by reading your plan – and by reading your first statements of what your “perfect” life should be like.

f.        Don’t wait for the “moment” or the “motivation” and even better, do at least 5 mins of something when all you want to do is do nothing. Every little helps x

Just drop off the key, Lee, and get yourself free

 

 

Be accountable, be honest, be true, be steady, be real, own it, live it, love it x