Keeping up your good intentions – even when it's not January anymore

January has been behind us for months now. Your calendar is back in full swing, the daily routine has taken over, and your New Year's resolutions? They're gathering dust at the bottom of a notebook somewhere.

You started the year full of hope, but now – at the end of May – it feels like you're back at square one. Don't worry: it's not your fault. Most people give up within a few weeks, simply because they start without a plan.

The psychology behind loss of motivation

Motivation is fickle. Especially if your goals are vague, you try to change too much at once, or you don't have a concrete plan. Your mind gets overwhelmed and chooses the path of least resistance: returning to your old behavior.

What you need to persevere is clarity and structure. Your brain thrives on clarity: what do I need to do, when, and why? Without that, your motivation will wane sooner or later.

What works: structure, visibility and feasibility

The key is small steps. Break your resolution down into manageable actions that you can carry out daily or weekly. It's better to exercise for 10 minutes every day than for an hour three times a week—and then give up because it doesn't work.

It also helps enormously if you visualize your progress. Seeing what you've accomplished every week will keep you motivated. And by reflecting and adjusting each week, you significantly increase your chances of success.

The Focus Planner as a stick behind the door

The Focus Planner helps you stick to your New Year's resolutions. How?

• You translate your intention into a concrete 90-day goal.
• You plan per week and per day what you need to do for this.
• You track your progress and reflect regularly.

The result: you stay sharp, motivated, and active. Even after January – and especially in May.

Practical tips to keep your resolutions

New Year's resolutions aren't about willpower, but about smart planning. This helps:

• Build routines. Link your intention to an existing habit.
• Celebrate small victories. Every step counts – give yourself recognition.
• A relapse plan. It's part of the process. What do you do if things don't work out?

With realistic expectations and a good system, you can turn your resolutions into lasting habits.

Time to start over

New Year's resolutions don't fail due to a lack of motivation, but due to a lack of structure. Give yourself the tools you need to persevere. Start again today—but smarter this time. Use the Focus Planner and make your goals a success.

Curious about how to stay motivated and actually achieve your goals?
Also read the blog: Why 90-day planning works better than annual planning (and how to get started) .