Yeah true. My discipline isn't great so that's another reason for the modest initial goals. What drives me though is the sheer desire to do it. I don't do it through gritted teeth a lot of the time because I've cultivated the sheer will do learn these things. For the days that the desire is flagging, I have to fall back on grit but not too often. So another secret here is "cultivate your desire to do something" and to that I'd add "try to keep it as fun as possible". Desire is key.

Totally agree that modest goals make it easier to get started, get some "little" wins, and help build up steam over time.

I guess the point I was trying to make is when you set the specific schedule, convince yourself its not optional. I make the mistake all the time of saying things like "yea I'm going running at 7am tomorrow", but deep down I don't full commit to it.

Yeah I'm with you on the 7am thing. I think sometimes you just had to admit that maybe the time doesn't work for you even though you want it to. I can't run without having been awake for at least one hour and being fairly well hydrated etc and I rarely get out of bed before 0630 so I tend to run after the nursery / school drop off.

WFH helps here as I can drop kids off and then run, shower and be at my desk for 0900. I'd run at lunchtime at work otherwise if it wasn't for WFH but this also makes it easier.