Accountability Partners

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Have you ever used any of these excuses? - I just can't do it! It is too hard! There is no way that I can lose 20 pounds! I'm too tired! There is just too much to do!

I know I have used those all at one point and time for various reasons - wanting to lose weight, start working out, reading my Bible regularly, decluttering, etc. There are things we want to do and get done, but just us doing it by ourselves makes it seem so overwhelming at times.

What if we had someone else to help? How about an accountability partner? 

accountability - the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions - Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

So an accountability partner helps you by holding you responsible for whatever goals you want to make.

Who should my accountability partner be?
Someone you trust and who will "hold your feet to the fire" per se if they need to. Accountability partners work especially well when you have similar goals as you can work on them together - go to the gym together, compare notes on your dieting or decluttering, talk about what you are reading in your Bible.

For instance, if your goal is to exercise 5 days a week, and you haven't gone but twice and it is Friday?  Your partner will try to find out what is going on and encourage you to keep on exercising.  They will check in on you to see how things are going with your goals.

After I pick an accountability partner, what should I do?
Sit down and talk with them about your goal(s) and how you want to accomplish them.  Also, tell them what you expect - i.e. when to call, what to do if you are slipping, non-judgmental, etc.  What would help you most?

How do I know that they will hold me accountable?
If you don't have the same goals or even if you do, you can have an incentive to keep going for them i.e. for each time you don't workout you miss you will give them say $10 or clean their kitchen, etc.  That will keep them interested in your progress as well as you not having to give up money, clean. :D

Does it work?
Yes!  It has worked for me on several occasions for working out and making sure to declutter, too.  When I started working out and getting fit before my husband came back from a deployment, I needed someone to keep my "feet to the fire" as did another friend.  We both called each other about going to the gym.  We'd exercise together and talk about our eating.  I ended up losing 20 pounds and have kept it off.

Do you have some goals that you would like to have an accountability partner for?  Have you ever had an accountability partner?

Our guest post this week is from Sherry! She is a military spouse of 17 years.  Their family lives among the wide prairies and beautiful sunsets of Kansas where she homeschools her two children.  In her spare time, she loves to sing in choir, bake, read, and spend time with friends and family. Her blog is focused on encouraging others, sharing recipes, and sharing a little bit of the wonderful family God has blessed her with.You may also connect with her on Facebook.