What Motivates You?
Everything that we do is motivated by some outside force. We go to school to become brighter individuals, to learn a new skill or to prepare for a future job. We learn a craft or trade skill because it relaxes us, allows us to create something or gives us the opportunity to profit from our ability. We work hard to be able make more money, as a stepping stone for a future job, to fill a need or even for personal satisfaction and gratification. We are charitable because we want to help someone in need or it gives us a sense of well-being. We attend movies, plays, concerts and entertainment events because it makes us happy, entices emotions or allows us to relax. We exercise to feel better, for wellness, to be healthier, to prepare our bodies for old age or to meet a specific fitness goal like running a distance or lifting a weight.
For me, feelings of frustration, self-worth, appearance and lack of energy inspired us to step back and look at our habits. We were eating out almost once a day, weren’t exercising enough and generally weren’t taking good care of ourselves. We started making more home-cooked meals, measuring our food, increasing our vegetable intake, exercising more frequently and monitoring our efforts and progress in MyFitnessPal. For over 620 days, I logged into MyFitnessPal to log my food, and/or my exercise. A heart rate monitor, fitness bands and exercise apps became part of our lifestyle and fashion statement. We utilized tools like Nike FuelBand, FitBit Flex, Jawbone Up, MyFitnessPal, RunKeeper, Cyctastic and more. Accountability was important and the results were positive. Aside from weight management benefits, for the first time in… ever… I was finally able to run more than a mile without stopping. Monitoring our activity became key to our success.
However, sometimes we need a little extra push. That is where a goal (or the proverbial carrot) comes into play. It’s a simple fact of life that there are some things we know we should do but find reasons not to. Exercising is a big one for some people. “I don’t have time.” My biggest pitfall is that I don’t drink enough water. I know I should. I know it’s good for my skin. I know it’s healthy. I know it has zero calories. I know, I know, I know… yet I don’t do it. I grew up on well water and the distaste for water has stuck with me ever since. Scott has installed a reverse osmosis system in each house we have lived in and that helps. But seriously, ugh. I would rather drink something else.
Had I know I could be rewarded (financially) for setting goals, I might have been more inclined to work harder. I’ve already said that the nature of life itself rewards us for our accomplishments. We feel better, are healthier, are happier, are wealthier or are (insert your personal satisfaction here). However, what if I told you that just like when you’re rewarded for shopping, you can also be rewarded for living a healthier lifestyle? I’ve already explained the benefits of the Walgreens #BalanceRewards program as well as how it allows you to use clipless coupons through prior educational campaigns through #CollectiveBias. Well, now you’re able to set goals, monitor your fitness and generally learn to make healthy choices all via the Walgreens app or website.
This isn’t just about exercise. In a nutshell, by setting goals and recording your activities – exercise, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose just to name a few, you earn Balance Rewards points. You can then cash in those points just like you would the ones you earn from shopping!
If you’re like me, you want things to be as easy as possible. I record my runs, my food and non-running exercises into their respective apps. Logging into ANOTHER place isn’t something I think I would commit to. Walgreens recognized this and allows users to sync various devices and apps to minimize the need to double enter. The following devices and apps all sync with Balance Rewards for healthy choices: Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Zip, iHealth Wireless Activity and Sleep Tracker, iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor, Jawbone Up24, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper.
However, if you don’t utilize apps or gear that syncs, you can easily enter it into the Walgreens system on your own. Using the website, you simply log into Balance Rewards, go to your dashboard and add the activity details.
Entering via the app is equally as simple. Launch the app on your device, select BR for healthy choices, select the area you wish to add (in the example above, I selected ‘step’) then add the activity. You’ll see your existing activities, can sort by time frame or add new ones.
So there is no excuse for not monitoring your activity – it’s easy, earns Balance Rewards points and helps you be accountable for your choices! Now I just need to get my water under control. Thankfully, Walgreens has me set there also!
Would knowing you get rewarded for healthy choices make you more likely to do things like set goals, exercise or track your blood pressure?
Hooray for Walgreens. I workout every single day and it would be nice to get rewarded for something I do every day anyways.
Agreed, Robin. I especially like that it syncs with devices and apps I already use. Once connected, I can cash in on those without doing anything special then focus on the other things that they have available. It’s win/win!
Nice job – I have herd of the Walgreens app – really need to set some time aside and check it out
It’s nice, Lena. In addition to this healthy choices portion of their Balance Rewards program, they also have clipless coupons and other cool features. You’ll have to let me know what you think once you check it out.
oh hey! i can connect my balance rewards with my fitness stuff!! sweet! i’ve been doing a jog or walk almost daily!
That’s right, Brett. You can connect your app and/or your device and just watch the points roll in. Kudos to you for getting out for a jog or walk!
Knowing how well my clothes will fit if I work out definitely motivates me. I workout several times a week. I don’t always want to, but it’s become part of my daily routine.
I agree, Jaime. How my clothes fit is a big motivator. When I lost weight, I got rid of some of my larger sizes so I wouldn’t be as likely to yo-yo. Kudos for making workouts part of your routine. Have you checked out the Balance Rewards healthy choices program to reward yourself for what you’re already doing?
As you say, motivation is an excellent way to stay on track. I need to add this to my Walgreen’s information, since it is such a convenient way to stay focused.
You’ll have to let me know what you think of it, Lori.
I need to become a little more motivated. I am always motivated right when the kids go back to school and then I get a little lazy in September.
I hear you, Stacie. I tend to “forget” to be motivated when things get busy.I’m confident that this will help me remember… I’ll see the reminder every time I drive by a Walgreens.
Exercising isn’t something that comes easily to me. I need a motivator, even if it’s just seeing progress on an app. Right now I’m using the cute fall wardrobe that doesn’t fit as motivation to eat better and move more.
I’m not good about exercising every day but when the kids were little, I found a class at the Y that was offered every Monday and Wednesday. After establishing that habit, I discovered I get grumpy if I DON’T go to the gym on those days. (Wardrobe isn’t a motivator for me… it just depresses me.)
Sounds like a neat app. Being able to track everything.
Wow! I had heard of the Walgreens app recently but had no idea it integrated with so many popular fitness apps. That’s terrific!
I have seen a few posts about Walgreens and their healthy rewards program. I sure wish I had one closer to me.
I think knowing I’d be rewarded for my healthy choices would be good motivator. We shop at Walgreens all the time, I have to check out this app!
Great job keeping up with your healthy lifestyle. I love the Walgreens Balance Rewards program too.
I need to be able to see progress or I lose my motivation.
I adore Walgreens. I haven’t really looked so much into the balance rewards.
I love that Walgreens in encouraging a healthy way of life. I’ll continue to support Walgreens because they really do care.
I already reward myself whenever I reach a health goal. I love that Walgreens is making it even easier.
I love the Balance Rewards program. What a great way to encourage people to make healthy choices.
This is really great. Now I have a reason (other than my health) to make good decisions.
I love the Balance Rewards program. I’m a very externally motivated person, so this is great for me.
What a wonderful program. We try to encourage healthy activities in our home, and this is just one more reason to promote healthy decisions.
Very encouraging program! I am all for motivational rewards!
Yes water is a must! I get so thirsty working outside.
I absolutely love Walgreens’ Balance Rewards program! And I love being able to get rewarded for making healthy choices. It’s a win-win!
every time I hear about this app I hear something awesome!
I think the Walgreens Balance Rewards would help me. I am looking for motivation to get myself in better health.
Love this program by Walgreens. They are really working keeping people active.
Walgreen’s always has such great programs and initiatives. This one is awesome for keeping people moving!
Walgreens is really keeping up with the times and kudos to them for doing it. As for water, I used to always drink enough of it, but then I got a coffee addiction and it went by the wayside. I really need to amp it up.
I hope to get a fit bit so I can take advantage of this!
What a wonderful sounding program. We don’t have Walgreens here in Canada, but we need one!
We love Walgreens! I didn’t know they had all of this workout tracking though. That’s a great idea!
This is so great, I love that Walgreens seems to have so many loyal customers and that they have a wide range of programs to help consumers. I have not ever been to one, but this post makes me really want to start checking them out.
I wish we had a Walgreen’s in our area. I love the look of this app. I bet it would help keep you on track.
Everyone needs something to motivate them to follow through with the behavior. I can be challenging to figure out what it is for different folks. Good for you for keeping up the good work and figuring out what works for you!
This would certainly be a motivator in getting to the gym every day! thanks for sharing!
I don’t really shop at Walgreens, but I am for anything that keeps me motivated to work out. And being rewarded too
Even though it’s a gentle nudge from that app, it would be great motivation for me too. Those savings add up!
I keep forgetting they offer points for healthy activity! I need to start logging my workouts again!
I need something like the MY Fitness Pal to keep me motivated. We love our Walgreens!
I love shopping at Walgreens! I especially love the Balance Rewards program.
Rewards are a great motivator! I need to check into this! Thanks for sharing!
Logged 620 days in a row- impressive! I just finished day 2 🙂
I am motivated by change and motivated to never be 100lbs overweight again.
I need to get more motivated!
Oh I WISH Walgreens or CVS would allow us to earn bonus bucks for exercising and buying healthy foods! I mean you get extra points for buying beauty products by joining the “beauty club” at these stores! I would be the first to sign up!
I love that you can earn balance rewards by getting healthy. Definitely a motivator!
Logging in for 620 days is seriously impressive! I love the combination of accountability and rewards with this app! #client