We’ve all been there. We want to eat healthier. We want to exercise more. But when push comes to shove and we are back in our routine, and life becomes busy again, we forget about our good intentions to eat healthily or exercise more – until the next new year, that is.

Good intentions often remain just that. Why?

Perhaps pulling a metaphor for this problem closer would help explain it better. A friend and I have been saying for at least the past six months now that we should grab a coffee together at some stage. Every time I see her at school or next to the sports field, we would reiterate this good intention. I would say, “Send me a message with a time that would work for you,” and the next message from her is to ask what today’s homework was. Or she would say, “Let me know when you would like to go.” But then the next thing I need to know from her is whether she’s perhaps seen my son’s lost shoes. And so it goes on. Life is just too busy.

But I bet if we arranged a date, time, and venue, we would be far more likely to go on our coffee date. Right?

The same is true for other good intentions. We are more likely to see something through once there is already a plan in place.

I believe one of the reasons why I manage to stick with running so well is that I follow a worked-out plan. If I had to rely on myself and get up each morning to go for some random run, I would have probably been far less successful.

Don’t let the good intentions you have for yourself this year roll over to next year again. Draw up your plan for making that happen or ask an expert to help you with such a plan.