Even with a solid focus routine, life happens. Some days flow better than others. A few accountability strategies can help you stay on track without being hard on yourself.
That's ok. That's life.
That's why having a few accountability strategies can help you notice when you've drifted and gently get back on track.
What is accountability?
Accountability is the state of being answerable and responsible to your commitments.
Importance of accountability at work
Being accountable is really important at work, where you have many people relying on you in order to operate effectively as a team. Without immediate consequences, it's natural for accountability to feel less urgent. That's why many people find it helpful to create their own accountability structures.
Good example of accountability in the workplace
One simple thing you can do to show your colleagues that you care about accountability is to just give regular updates on your progress towards previously determined goals.
Tips to be more accountable with yourself
1. Use timers
Timers can be a really powerful tool thanks to your brain's commitment bias. The brain does not like breaking commitments (which is what we call the Commitment bias).
You can work with your brain's natural tendencies rather than against them. The commitment bias means once you start something, you're more likely to follow through. The concept of using your own biases may seem quite foreign to you, but I bet you have in actual fact likely done this hundreds of times in your life already.
When was the last time you counted down from 3?
3…2…1…
Often we use these countdowns to tell ourselves we're going to do something after a few seconds. And it works, which is why we do it. A simple countdown like this can compel us to do the difficult things we would not do without counting down.
So next time you feel like you're stuck before you've even started, give yourself a countdown to clear your head and focus on what you need to. Or open your phone and start a timer to commit to focusing on something for at least 20 minutes.
2. Work somewhere public
Offices, public places or working with team members elsewhere, whilst not being as convenient as working from home, has a major benefit not often talked about…
It creates a sense of accountability.
It may be the reason there is so much disagreement about whether working from home or in the office results in better productivity. With a quick search, one study finds 45% of workers feel more productive at the office compared to 30% at home, while other studies completely contradict this.
If your workplace has built up an atmosphere of productivity, you're more likely to naturally match that energy. Being around focused people can help you focus too—without guilt, just momentum. This atmosphere can go a long way to help you automatically switch into gear.
3. Find accountability buddies
If you don't work in an office, one strategy that works quite effectively is to work with a friend or a family member at home, at a café or a library. If you're both driven people then this one takes care of itself.
It's a good idea to explain to each other that you're trying to focus and to ask your buddy to interrupt you if they notice you get majorly distracted.
An added bonus is it's also often fun so it makes your work a little bit more rewarding.
Some people use online accountability buddy services where you connect with someone who checks in on your progress and helps you stay on track.
4. Commit to pre-pacts
If you want to add extra structure, pre-commitment strategies can help…
Before we go further, in this context a pact is a commitment that is intended to bind oneself to some terms in the future.
If you're serious about something, and that something isn't happening, it might be time to create an equally serious pact with yourself. Nir Eyal, in his book Indistractable, recommends these—they work for some people, though they're not for everyone:
- Effort pacts that prevent distraction by making unwanted behaviours more difficult to do (e.g. keep your phone in a timed-open cookie jar)
- Price pacts that prevent distraction with the fear of losing money if you don't do what you say you will (e.g. give your friend $100 and let them know you only get it back if you have read 3 books in 3 weeks)
Any of these might work for you. Try what feels right and see what sticks.
Try Unscroll