The Accountability of Blogging

Posted: January 28, 2011 at 12:56 pm

I’ve heard about plenty of studies claiming that writing down and then tracking progress plays a key role in successfully achieving goals. The key point in this reasoning is the accountability of a place to look back over goals and progress. This always made me wonder if I didn’t set goals well enough. I don’t have tables and charts with my goals saved on my hard-drive. I don’t have an inspiration board hanging on my refrigerator. I don’t carry around my monthly goals on a 3x5 index card in my purse. The closest I get to written goals is my daily to-do list – which I lately don’t even have the time to write that.

Then, when I thought about it, I realized I do in fact have a place of written documentation – this blog. This blog helps hold me accountable in a variety of ways and I like that. I have fitness goals I shared on the blog. Even though I certainly feel no pressure from anyone out there reading, the fact I am working to achieve them in front of plenty of others never leaves the back of my mind. It undoubtedly will help motivate me at times to get in that workout or try that new recipe because I want to share it here.

The community of support also inspires me to believe in myself and push towards every goal I put out there. Including some scary ones I possibly consider working towards. I haven’t told you yet that I have my eye on a longer race (a 1/2) I would love to do at the end of the year if I end up liking running as much as I started to before getting pregnant. See…blog accountability. I’ve been trying to keep that a secret because its not certain. Then, it feels so good just to put that possibility even out there in public. It holds me accountable to not fearing new goals and dreams, even if those new goals could change.

Blogging also holds me accountable to myself. Every day I write a post I must reflect on myself, my day, my life. How’s that for accountability? I can never forget the blessings of my life when I showcase it post by post for all of you. When I have struggles, posting about them helps me to learn and grow from them much differently than silently allowing it all to swirl around in my head. I have a reputation I like to keep by not giving up on my beliefs and what I present here – like consistent honesty and realness in ALL things.

Sure, I can (and will) always do what works best for me and adapt goals accordingly as I go along. However, simply having the blog as a sounding board of my thoughts and reflections helps to always keep things in perspective. It always puts things into the light for me to clearly see. It always holds me accountable. To my goals? Certainly. But mostly? Mostly to myself.

Question of the Day – Do you feel your blog (if you have one) helps hold you accountable in some way? What about reading blogs?

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73 Comments to “The Accountability of Blogging”
  1. Hi Tina…
    I love the quotes you used in today’s post…they’re great!

    I absolutely agree that your blog can be a tool and can help to hold you accountable for what you do both with your food and in your life. As a Weight Watchers lifetime member, I still track my foods. The other day, I completely forgot what I had eaten…I checked my blog! Worked perfectly. Thanks for a thought provoking post!
    Fran

  2. Cynthia says:

    I think blogging does hold me accountable. If I didn’t blog, I would probably go days without anything green. Posting so much of what I eat ensures that I will keep eating as healthy as I can. I’m all about balance, but I need some veggies every once in a while.

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  4. I like announcing goals on my blog but I think support from other bloggers pushes me on more to reach my goal especially when I feel like I want to give up. 🙂

  5. Love those quotations!! And you could totally rock a half marathon if you wanted to Tina!

    Support from commenters when I do announce my goals is the best thing ever! 😀

  6. Errign says:

    I personally love the accountability of announcing a goal or a dream on my blog and following through. Similarly, I have found myself feeling disappointed when I see fellow bloggers giving up on their goals!

    Blogging & the community can be such a wonderful tool. 🙂

  7. Emily says:

    I definitely feel like blogging helps with accountability big time! I always caution myself before putting something out there because I want to be sure it’s something I am sticking true; being true to my word is so important to me! Glad that blogging has been a great tool for you 🙂

  8. I definitely feel like my blog holds me accountable. I have never been a big journal person, so the blog gives me a way to reflect on my life, and like you said, reminds me of how lucky I am . When I started my blog, I just thought it would be a way to share my passion for health and fitness with others and hopefully inspire a few people to get healthy. I read maybe 2 blogs regularly, but that’s about it. After I started blogging I was shocked at all of the friends I met and how much they inspire me to reach for my goals and even my dreams (i.e. my yoga studio). I am so grateful for the blogging world and everything it has given me!

  9. Helen says:

    Yes, I think that my blog, as with anyone’s, is a great took in accountability. I made a promise last summer to be a healthier person and a role model. That is how I ended up in the blogging community. I can easily look back on the foods in my blog and see that I am being consistent with that promise/goal. I have also listed my new goals for 2011 on the blog. It is so easy to go back and pull up that list so I can stay on track 🙂

    Oh and I probably would go nuts if I had to go through one day without reading at least a few of the blogs I follow….lol!

  10. […] today’s earlier post discussed blog accountability. I don’t know if you remember, but I had a goal to try a new recipe for dinner each week here in […]

  11. Cate says:

    I think both my blog and reading other blogs keeps me accountable. By putting my upcoming races and goals online it is extra motivation to follow through with what I say. Plus reading about other peoples goals makes me consider new things myself. I never really thought about doing a half marathon or mini triathlon, but after reading about other bloggers adventures I thought why not give it a try – and I am so glad I did. 🙂
    and you can totally do a half – go for it! 🙂

  12. i definitely think having a blog keeps me more accountable to work toward my goals. i’ve already learned how supportive this community is and i’ve only been blogging for a month!

    also, reading other blogs (like yours!) keeps me motivated to try new things. great post!

  13. Heather says:

    Discovering food and fitness blogs and then later creating my own has done so much for changing my lifestyle and holding me accountable. I definitely think that I eat more variety of foods now and put more effort into cooking my meals so that I can share them with others. I don’t think it could have come at a better time. My life 6 months ago was so gray and nothing seemed to make me happy, but once I started finding blogs and other people that had a passion about healthy living, I definitely blossomed into what I am now and I feel so much happier!

  14. Here you go again, blogging about something that i’ve been thinking about. I swear we’ve been on the same mind wave the last week. hahahaha!!!!

    This is actually why I started blogging again after such a long haitus and with a different thought and mindset. I use my blog now more for the accountabilty and the abundance of support out here in the blogging world. it’s perfect for those of us that do not like the standard pen and paper. Plus, i dont know about you but my handwriting has went to hell in a handbasket since the pc world. hahaha! typing is so much easier and neater online than in a journal.

  15. I find blogging – and responding to blogs does help my accountability. It isn’t accountability to other’s – entirely – but just the fact that I write my goals down, that I speak of my dreams, and my doubts, keeps me accountable to myself. However, that said, I have a few (VERY few) regular viewers, but I feel accountable to them. They help me stay honest with myself – in my fitness and in my faith struggles. I receive, and give, encouragement and hope via blogs, more than in my personal life actually. I like the connectedness the blogs bring to my life, to other people who I’d love to live around the block from. They give me strength.

    • Tina says:

      Isn’t it amazing how just putting goals and the struggles or triumphs that comes with them empowers us so much? I love it!

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