This is one for the planners.
The ones who love to map out what’s coming next, diving into the minutiae of what, when, where, how and why. The colour-coordinated diaries and multi-step plan.
And as great as planning can be, it also can become a trap that hinders progress. We can get so caught up in the planning phase that we don’t actually take action.
I had a conversation with a Coach a few weeks ago about this preparation trap. I excitedly explained how I’m feeling really inspired to get into running.
I saw that Coach again more recently, and they asked me if I’d started running. My answer?
“Well, I’ve bought some great running shoes, I’ve planned out a great route, and I know how far I want to run. It’s going pretty well so far.”
“So you haven’t started running then?”
“I guess not…”
The plan was immaculate, but the running was nonexistent.
And I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves to plan. But a hard truth I’m learning to digest: planning isn't the progress you think it is. Important? Undoubtedly. But it isn’t the same as actually making progress.
At some point, you have to close the diary, stop optimising, and go.
Today, we're wrapping up our intro to mindset series, and looking at how to make that a little easier. If you missd those, check out part one, all about how to focus on discipline not motivation, and part two, breaking down how to actually get started.
Why Does Planning Feel Like Progress?
There's actually a well-established model that maps out how change happens, and it breaks down into five stages:
- Precontemplation (no intent to change)
- Contemplation (considering change)
- Preparation (planning to act)
- Action (implementing change)
- Maintenance (sustaining change)
Most people assume that once they hit the preparation stage and get stuck into the planning, researching, and diary blocking, they're already on their way.
And in a sense, they are. But preparation is stage three. Action is stage four. And the gap between those two stages is exactly where most people get stuck.
There are neurological reasons why people get caught in stage three:
Planning Reduces Uncertainty
Nothing has changed yet, but you can see where you're going. There's a path ahead, and this makes the change feel more tangible.
Your brain is actually wired to treat uncertainty as a threat. So by creating a plan, the whole process just feels better. And we naturally want to stay where things feel good.
Planning Accelerates the Feeling of Progress
Planning creates a feeling of progress before action has taken place.
Planning and action share the same goal pursuit circuitry in the brain, which means when you're deep in your colour-coded training schedule, your brain thinks movement is happening when it’s not.
Planning Builds a Sense of Identity
Planning helps you build a sense of who you're becoming. There's a difference between going for a run and being a runner.
Planning lets you try on that identity before you've done the work, and that feels meaningful, even motivating.
In short, planning feels so good that it can become a substitute for action.
How to Move From Planning into Action
1. Plan Short and Act Quick
The longer the planning phase, the less likely action becomes.
A simple rule: every plan should be followed immediately by an action. It doesn't have to be the biggest step; it just has to be something.
If you've just written down that you want to train three times a week, the next move is to open your calendar and block the first session right now, not later, not tomorrow. Now. You want to eat more healthily? That starts with your next meal, not dinner on Monday.
It doesn’t have to be the biggest action, but it’s something.
2. Get Specific About Your Entry Point
Vague plans produce vague action. The more specific you can be, the easier it becomes to actually start.
The difference between intention and action often comes down to one thing: a clear entry point.
- Intention: I want to get stronger.
- Action: I'm going to do three resistance sessions this week: Monday at 6pm, Wednesday at 6pm, Friday at lunchtime.
Same goal. Completely different likelihood of happening. One is a wish, the other is a plan with a door you can actually walk through.
3. Plan for Consistency Rather than Perfection
Personally, I have two areas of weakness: my calendar and the 5am alarm. I love to plan things out weeks in advance, colour coordinate the different areas, and feel accomplished when it’s all laid out in front of me. And I LOVE to plan in an early morning gym session.
But when the alarm goes off, I snooze it faster than I planned it.
I get far too excited by the possibility that I forget to think about the reality.
A useful question to ask before you commit to any plan: "How confident am I that I can actually do this? And how confident am I if I sleep badly, work late, or something social comes up?"
If the honest answer is "not very," the plan needs adjusting, not your effort.
If 5am has beaten you ten times in a row, the answer probably isn't to try harder at 5am. It might just be that 5am doesn't work for you, and that's not a character flaw; it's data.
The best plan isn't the most impressive one. It's the one you'll follow through on. Consistency built around your real life will always beat the perfect schedule you can never quite stick to.
4. Close the loop more frequently
Big goals are easy to hide from. Planning makes this worse because you can feel like you're moving without ever checking whether you actually are.
The fix is simple: reflect more often. At the end of each day, or at a regular recurring moment in your week, ask yourself one question: Did I do what I said I'd do?.
If you really want to make it stick, bring someone else into it. A Coach can ask you the same question, and it’s much harder to ignore when it’s not just you holding yourself to it.
By breaking bigger goals down into small actions you regularly reflect on, it becomes much harder to stay in the planning stage without noticing.
And the sooner you can see that clearly, the sooner you can do something about it.
The Domino Effect
Here’s a simple way to think about all of this.
Imagine your actions are dominoes. For one to knock the next one over, they need to be small and close together. It doesn't matter how big or impressive the first domino is; if it’s too far apart from the next, nothing happens.
The same is true here. Small actions, taken consistently and close together, create the kind of momentum that builds on itself. One session leads to another. One good decision makes the next one easier. The chain starts moving.
But it only starts when you stop planning and actually tip the first domino over.
TL;DR
(Too long, didn’t read)
- Planning feels like progress because your brain treats it like action. It isn't.
- The gap between planning and doing is where good intentions fail; shrink it.
- Every plan needs a specific entry point, not just a goal.
- Plan for a mediocre week, not your best one; that's the plan you'll actually stick to.
- Reflect daily on whether action happened; it's too easy to hide in the planning stage.
- Small actions close together create momentum. Tip the first domino.
For the past 3 posts, we’ve been looking at the mindset behind creating change and from here, it’s time to turn towards training. Now that we're armed with the why and the how, it's time to get into the work itself. That's what we're getting into next.
For now, it’s your turn.
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