4 Easy Ways to hold yourself Accountable

We all aren't fortunate enough to afford a business coach or mentor to check in on us and motivate us when the going gets tough. I completely understand the struggle. I too haven't had the chance to invest in a business coach just yet but clearly the timing just isn't right.

I'm pretty good with keeping myself organized and making sure that I "get shit done", but it can get frustrating when you're being consistent and still aren't seeing the exact results you want. I'm sure we've all experienced a time where we wanted to quit and give up on our dreams because of it but we have to keep going. And holding yourself accountable is one way to do it.

1. Obtain an accountability partner

You can never have too many accountability partners. From your family to one of your closest friends, it's always good to have someone that knows what's best for you. Meet with them weekly or monthly, whatever works for you that will help to keep you on track with your goals.

I like to meet with my accountability partner every week. During our meetings, we brainstorm, set dates and complete our daily tasks. It's very motivating to be able to work amongst like-minded people who have similar goals as me.

2. Have the proper mindset

If you want to achieve your goals, you have to know that it will happen. It may not happen when you want it to but it will happen when it;s supposed to. It's all in what you put out. Put out 50%, you'll get 50% back. Put out 100% and the reward will be bigger than what you expected.

I have a habit of thinking negatively sometimes because things don't always go the way I hoped. But I'm realizing that God clearly has a different plan for me and understanding that has relieved me of a lot of stress. Knowing that my life is already planned out and just waiting for me to embrace it, makes me excited about my future and all the opportunities heading my way.

3. Plan ahead

Planning is a big part of goal setting. You have to make your goals a priority if you want to accomplish them. It's easier to complete a task if you set a date for it rather than not having a deadline at all. Even if you don't meet your goal by your set deadline, its okay because at least you were working towards something. You can write it down or even speak it into existence, but setting a deadline will definitely help with holding yourself accountable.

I consistently plan out my days in advance. The night before each day, I write down everything that I plan to accomplish the following day. It's pretty much the same couple of tasks on each list mixed in with a few new goals here and there. With each day, I make sure to cross off everything that I managed to complete. I even went as far as posting my to-do lists on social media, which has also helped me to hold myself accountable. If I show you guys what's on my agenda, I feel even more obligated to complete my tasks.

4. Educate yourself on your goals

It's important to know how the goals you plan to accomplish will benefit your future. Having this knowledge will also help to strengthen your "why"; the reason why you wanted to make your goal a goal in the first place. Just wanting to achieve something isn't enough. Understanding the reasoning behind a specific goal will give you even more of a reason to work towards it.

I do my best to make each and every one of my goals a priority. Being able to set a goal and achieve it is such a great feeling to me. But it's a lot that goes into accomplishing a goal, depending on exactly what it is. It takes a lot of dedication, hard work, consistency and prayer. Prayer is the most important to me because I need guidance. When I set out to do something, I need to know if the choices and decisions I am making are aligned with what I plan to accomplish. And with God's guidance, I'll be able to make the right decisions in order to successfully accomplish my goals.

With everything said and done, it is definitely possible to hold yourself accountable. But you can't do it alone. Ask a close friend or a family member to help you reach your goals, set hard deadlines and meet them accordingly, also be consistent and stay focused on your "why" because with God's help, anything is possible!

Photographer: Taylor Baldwin (@mamaphotog)