Learning Accountability: 5 Tips to Help Hold Yourself Accountable During Lifestyle Changes (Like Holidays)
Sometimes the biggest struggles during habit and lifestyle changes aren’t necessarily what you have going on, but what’s going on around you.
The added stressors to stay on track with your new lifestyle or goals during family birthdays, holiday parties, work events, and happy hours can be extremely frustrating.
You feel as if you’re having to choose between being a part of the occasion or sticking to your health and wellness goals, and you just cannot seem to find a happy medium.
Sometimes the biggest struggles during habit and lifestyle changes aren’t necessarily what you have going on, but what’s going on around you.
Below are 5 tips to help you enjoy life and stay on track at the same time!
REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED
When it comes to habit change, if you don’t keep a conscious effort during the process, those old habits can subconsciously sneak in without you even recognizing it.
Leave yourself little notes and reminders in places you will frequent every day: the bathroom mirror, your cell phone, around your desk at work, on your dashboard, in your calendar book, in the kitchen, etc.
FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY
Hopefully, you’re surrounding yourself with others who are also interested in doing things to better themselves. You two don’t necessarily have to have the same goal or focus, you two simply have to have a goal or focus that you’re working towards.
Being able to reach out to someone during the highs and lows of habit change can remind you of your goals, support you when you’re tempted to veer off in a different direction, and help remind you of your goals and why you started them.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS
No matter what your goal is, you can always keep a log of your progress. For example, if your goal is weight loss, you can keep track of your food with a daily food log as well as an exercise log of your weekly workouts.
One study found that those who track their nutrition with a daily food log resulted in twice as much weight loss as those who didn’t. This is a great way to build and establish self-accountability.
PREPARE AND PLAN AHEAD
Being able to anticipate special occasions like holiday get togethers or birthdays will allow you to plan your lifestyle around the events instead of the other way around.
Map out your meals and your workouts in advance. This can give you the opportunity to prepare healthy snacks and meals, look ahead at menus, make time for exercise, and still take part in and enjoy your time with those you care about.
(Bonus: this allows you to recognize where you’ve kicked butt so you don’t feel guilty indulging throughout the week.)
BE THE CHANGE
As mentioned earlier, you’re hopefully not the only one in your circle that has goals and is focused on accomplishing them.
Seeing others stay focused while adapting and overcoming obstacles during their journey of healthy habit change can help encourage and inspire others to do the same!
You could even suggest combining healthy goals with those around you: start a walking group, get a wellness committee started at work, try new healthy recipes with the family, etc.
Healthy habits and lifestyle change don’t have to be miserable or force you into seclusion. Living healthily does not mean you have to miss out on having fun and being social.
Ultimately, you won’t be able to avoid every temptation, but with a little planning and preparation, awareness and accountability, you can have your cake (or wings), and keep on track to accomplish your goals too! Balance is key.