You can actually progress much faster. And, you don’t need to be disappointed with a lack of follow through.
You know the silly 2nd grade philosophical question - If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, will it make a sound?
As I get older, I realize that it doesn’t often apply to my life at all. Mine is more like this:
If nobody is around to hear it, the tree will decide to wait another day before falling.
To clarify - I’m the tree. Falling is preparation and effort. The noise is the result that I want.
Now that only 3 people are still reading, I’ll give you an actual example that you can relate to.
I started taking piano lessons a little over a year ago. The lessons are 1 day each week. I am pretty good about practicing, even if just a few minutes, 5-6 days a week. What is my motivation to practice nearly every day?
Simple! I want to learn how to play the piano...well, at least that’s what I thought. But then something happened.
The piano teacher had a baby and took 1 month off of teaching lessons. Guess how many days that entire month I practiced the piano? Go ahead, say the number out loud in 1, 2, 3 - go!
Wrong. Unless you said 2 times. And, truthfully, that might be a stretch. I think on two occasions I sat at the piano and played the only song I have memorized.
As it turns out, the real motivation to practice is knowing that I have another lesson on Friday. I do not want to sit there on Friday and sight-read the same music in front of my teacher, fumbling over it, having not improved at all. Just knowing that a lesson coming and I will be playing this new piece of music for the teacher is enough motivation to sit at the piano and struggle through the learning process a few minutes each night.
Want even more motivation? Commit to playing a piano recital in front of other people. With a bunch of kids. And you’re the only adult.
How does this relate to you? What does it have to do with fitness?
Yes, you want to get in better shape. Maybe you want to lose weight, or finally get that pull up you’ve been working towards. However, just wanting it isn’t always enough. Take advantage of REAL accountability.
What is your anchor accountability?
Here are some things you can do to progress much faster and avoid the disappointment that comes along with a lack of follow through. I’ll use an enumerated list, because they’re easy to follow, and because I like making enumerated lists.
Sign up for some personal training sessions. You don’t have to do them every day. However, just meeting 1 on 1 with a trainer once per month or every 2 weeks will make a massive difference. You will get completely individualized help and things to work on. And, you will actually work on them because you don’t want to show up the following month and explain that you didn’t do anything you were supposed to.
Sign up for a competition.
Even the most disciplined and determined people are motivated extrinsically...if they admit it or not.
Know the benefit of anchor accountability, and take advantage of it!
Need me to hold you accountable? Simply leave and comment and I’ll check in on you.