Defining obstacles

When a healthy habit doesn't stick, it's rarely a lack of willpower. More often there's an obstacle we haven't named yet: no time to cook on weeknights, a break room full of snacks, a 3 p.m. energy slump, a family that isn't on board.

Once you define the obstacle clearly, you can plan around it. "I never have time" becomes "Tuesdays and Thursdays are late nights, so I'll make a double batch of soup on Sunday."

Try this: write down one habit you've been struggling with and list the two or three specific things that get in the way. Pick one and brainstorm a single workaround for this week.