The secret to achieving your goals
Our health is one of the most personal areas where accountability matters. No one else can make changes for you — only you can. Yet, there’s one aspect often overlooked: having an accountability partner or system to hold ourselves accountable dramatically increases our chances of success.
A small example from this past week: I spoke with a friend who experiences back pain, so I recommended a great 11-minute exercise video. I’ve done it on and off myself, and yes, it improves posture and eases discomfort. But I realised I wasn’t doing it consistently myself, and my back could benefit from it as well.
So, we started a simple accountability system: each day we check in — “Have you done your exercises today?” — or message each other after completing them. One day I skipped, but my friend messaged later that evening, motivating me to still do the exercises since it wasn’t too late. Miraculously, I’ve now done them every day, and I also keep adding a few extra fascia stretches (which I am obsessed with!) because once I get started, it just feels so good to keep going.
The beauty of accountability is that it works both ways. There will be days when I motivate her, and days when she motivates me. That simple connection makes sticking to habits easier and more enjoyable.
Even as a health coach and mentor, I need accountability in my own life. We all do — someone who sees our blind spots, holds a mirror when we’d rather look away, and helps us turn mistakes into lessons rather than threats.
Quick tips for building accountability:
Share your goals with someone who has similar objectives.
Create structure: break your goals into small, time-bound steps and write them down.
Use goal-setting techniques like SMART goals.
Ask for support: be clear with your accountability partner about what you’d like from them (check-ins, reminders, encouragement).
Celebrate progress, not just perfection!
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With love, Joanna
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln