My favorite accountability tool isn’t just free…But it pays me to be
physically active.
$20 bucks a month, to be exact. And depending on your insurance
provider, you may be able to get paid too (check with your insurance
provider to see if they offer any exercise incentives).
But honestly, the $20/month is a secondary benefit to the program.
For me, the greatest benefit is in the app.
Each month starts with an empty calendar. When you visit the gym for
a workout, you go into the app and log your workout. If you are at an
approved location, the date will turn green. If you are not, it will turn
yellow.
The app also links to your step tracker (apple watch, Oura ring, your
phone, or any other tracker). When you log 10,000 steps on any given
day, the date will automatically turn green.
This calendar has become my accountability tool. Each day, I have a
goal of either completing a workout, or logging 10,000 steps. Each
month, my goal is to see zero blank dates on the calendar.
So far, I’ve hit that goal exactly ZERO times in four years.
But, what I have done is become more aware. While I’ve yet to
complete the elusive “perfect month”, the ability to see a snapshot of
my overall monthly physical activity provides me with the feedback
necessary to make better decisions.
“I’m not feeling it today, have I earned a day off this month?”
If I’m seeing lots of green and yellow that month, I’ll take the rest. If
I’m seeing lots of blank dates, I know have to power through and
either get a workout or get some steps in.
Do you need this exact app? No
Could you benefit from some sort of visual representation of your
overall physical activity over a given period of time, then using that
feedback to make decisions and hold yourself accountable?
Absolutely.
Think about how you can create something you see every day that
measures what you deem important to reaching your goals. This
can be an app, a calendar on your wall, or a checklist. Get creative,
and do what works for you.
If it pays you to use it, that’s a bonus!
(Horizon Blue Cross Members – Learn more about Horizonbfit)