Mini Accountability Partners
Accountability partners come in all sizes. In fact, I would love to get a goat so I could do some goat yoga. That should help motivate me and keep me accountable right? I wouldn’t need to keep mowing my yard either! Do you have a dog? Dogs love to go out for a walk or if you have a dog larger than mine (which is not hard, Scrappy is a whopping 5 lbs.), your dog would appreciate being your run buddy. In today’s virtual world with COVID-19, you could coordinate with a co-worker to take your breaks at the same time and go for a walk, even virtually! It’s important to break up your day. Sometimes our brains just need a change of scenery to recharge.
For me, that change of scenery recharges me mentally. I love getting out in nature. Something about getting out for that hike, going camping, or just reading a good book brings me inner peace. Sometimes though, my accountability partners are my children, and they don’t always give me inner peace during those longer hikes.
Keep in mind that you may have multiple accountability partners, maybe even a different one for different activities. Who do you have in your life that could be your accountability partner?
Significant Others
My husband loves to try to get me to go to the gym with him. The gym is just not a desirable environment for me. Maybe you both like to do something else together. What is important is that you like doing the activity together and that it makes you active! Although I don’t like going to the gym, I am willing to go there for an active date night. My husband will be the first to tell you that I am SUPER competitive. When it’s a competition, I give it my all! Have a date night at the gym and build in some friendly competition. Who can hold the plank position the longest? Last one remaining gets to pick the next activity for the night.
You don’t always need to go to the gym for an active date. Hiking and dancing are great ways to get some exercise in. My husband and I really enjoy getting out for a good hike. It’s one of the things that we love about Washington, the vast options of good trails. Our goal is to go backpacking for a weekend, just the two of us, at Mount St. Helen’s or Mount Rainier. Talk about a good workout carrying all of your gear and food!
Youngsters
Do you have children? Do you have any nieces or nephews? How about neighborhood children? Children love to be helpful! Younger children can help count your reps. If they miss a number, you can do just a little more to push yourself. I try to count myself but their cute voices override the voice in my head. As long as I’m not doing squats or push-ups, I typically don’t mind doing a couple of different reps.
There are safe exercises that children can participate in. Children tend to be little balls of energy and having that energy around during a workout can help keep you going. One way to use that energy is to dance. Children love dancing! In our household, we tend to get a friendly competition going on Just Dance. The music is fun and we usually end up laughing at ourselves attempting the harder moves. Has anyone tried the Billie Ellish song on Just Dance 2020? Yeah….. we are pretty ridiculous with that one.
Remember, being active doesn’t always mean doing a scheduled workout. Sometimes, you just want to get out of the house. For us, going to the zoo is a great way to get out and walk several miles. My boys are usually really distracted and don’t realize the distance we put in until they actually sit in the car again. You can also go for a walk or go to your local park. Playing on the playground is a great way to be active and watch your children have fun.
Do you love the outdoors? Go out for a bike ride! Take in a hike. You can even go swimming. To keep your heart healthy, you need to stay active. Lifting weights and doing “normal” cardio are only two ways to do that.
Now that my boys are getting older, I find that we can do more together. We typically do most of what I have already mentioned. Since COVID-19 brought us home, my oldest and I started using a running app. I highly recommend the app 5K Runner. By doing a Couch to 5K program, we have been able to improve our running skills. I got to a point where I actually enjoyed running with him. GASP! Joseph is even talking about trying out for the cross country team if they ever go back to school.
Plan It Out
In today’s world, we need to be flexible. However, having a plan is a great way to help yourself stay accountable. It’s important to know what you are going to do, even if you don’t have the specifics yet.
When working with your accountability partner, plan on when to have this special time together. Whether it’s a friend, significant other, a child, or even your goat, dedicate the time to be together. This time could be a specific day of the week, every other week, monthly, or whatever works best for your schedule. Want to make it about more than just the exercise and being active? Plan a special meal to eat afterwards. Homemade pizza anyone?
You’re Not Alone
This is your journey. You are not alone. If you prefer to workout alone, that is perfectly fine! My self-talk tends to talk myself out of my early morning workouts so I’m not a great accountability partner for myself. You may be amazing at it. Your journey, your rules. Find a way to be active that makes you happy. Don’t be afraid to change up your routine. Life is an adventure, enjoy it!
What are your favorite ways to stay active? What do you like to do with your significant other or kids? I would love to hear about how you stay active in your life. We are always looking for new things to try.
