This morning, I sluggishly got out of bed around 6 a.m., driven not by motivation but by a promise I made to myself the night before. I purposely wrote “Getting Back on Track - Balancing Work and Endurance Training” before going to bed. Despite my lack of initial vigor, I completed my planned workout on an inclined treadmill while listening to an Audible book called Getting a Grip. By 8 a.m., I was ready for work at my desk, with a sense of satisfaction. This good energy carried me through the day. 
Reflecting on this, I realized the power of external accountability. Historically, I’ve relied solely on self-discipline for my endurance training. I wrote about that in “Count on Identity, Not Willpower.” Running alone, biking solo, or swimming without a group has been my norm. While I’ve managed to bike for six hours or run for two hours in solitude in the past, these days, pushing myself to complete planned workouts has become a struggle.
Making a promise to someone else significantly increases my likelihood of following through. This social commitment, known as peer accountability, taps into our inherent need for social validation and support. In my EO forum, we are planning to form accountability partnerships to help hold each other to our goals.
Yesterday, when I publicly declared my intentions, I wasn’t making promises to a specific person. Even then, the fear of failing in front of others compelled me to act. This public accountability seems similarly effective.
The effectiveness of these external accountabilities depends on the achievability of the commitments. When I commit to something I am confident I can achieve—say, a 60% chance or higher—my success rate increases to more than 80%. Conversely, setting overly ambitious goals with a 40% chance or lower of success often leads to failure and subsequent feelings of shame, which are counterproductive.
As I continue to write about endurance, I hope to not only improve my writing but also adhere to my physical commitments. I’ll try declaring my next workout again tomorrow, on my first day of workcation.