5 Reasons You Aren’t Following Through (even with the basics)

......and why the "simple stuff" feels so hard

We’re told over and over again that the basics are all we need: Go for a walk. Drink water. Eat more protein. It sounds simple—but when you're not following through, it feels frustrating.

Have you ever wondered: “If I know what to do, why can’t I just do it?”

It may NOT be that you're lazy or unmotivated. You’re likely dealing with real life stuff that makes even the basics feel overwhelming.

Here are 5 reasons why that could be happening—and what to do instead.

1. You’re not lazy. You’re overloaded.

Decision fatigue. Mental exhaustion. Burnout. When your brain is juggling 47 tabs—work, kids, aging parents, hormones, bills—"just go for a walk" isn’t so simple.

Mental fatigue makes everything harder—even things you want to do. A client and I were just talking yesterday about how draining brain overload and mental stress can be!

Start small, not perfect.

A 10-minute walk is most definitely a win.

2. Trying to always be perfect is hindering your progress.

“I didn’t hit 130g of protein, so why bother.”

“I skipped my workout, so I ruined the day.”

"I ate a piece of cake, I will never be good enough."

Sound familiar?

The pressure to do everything perfectly keeps you stuck.

Let good enough be your new goal.

That’s the kind of consistency that’s actually doable.

3. You’re stuck in a cycle of urgency.

Quick fixes feel exciting—but that excitement fades quickly.

I had a client who jumped on every detox and 21-day challenge that came her way.Green juices, sugar-free months, “drop 10 lbs fast” plans—you name it, she tried it.After about the 7th one, she started to put two and two together.The newness and promises gave her a dopamine hit—she loved the feeling of starting something with a big goal and a tight timeline.

But that’s all it was. A hit. And none of it came with lasting results.

Once she shifted her focus to things that felt sustainable—like strength training a few times a week, eating balanced meals, and being consistent instead of extreme—that’s when things actually started to change.

Because when fast progress stops, so does your follow-through.

Strategy means focusing on the process, not just the outcome. (It’s slower—but it’s the only way that actually sticks!)

4. You haven’t made it easy enough.

You want to eat better. You mean to go for that walk.

But when the fridge is empty, dinner turns into random snacks.

When your sneakers are buried under laundry, the workout gets skipped.

When there’s no plan, everything takes more energy than it should.

Motivation feels good—but it’s not reliable. Systems are.

A system can be as simple as having protein prepped in the fridge, setting out your workout clothes the night before, or deciding what’s for dinner before 6pm rolls around.

Success happens when it’s easier to follow through than to skip it.

Make it easier to win than to quit.

5. You’re still trying to fix yourself  instead of support yourself.

Do you want to get healthier, lose weight, or get stronger… because you hate your body—or because you care about it?

If your actions are driven by self-criticism, they won’t last.They’ll feel like punishment. Obligation. A constant pressure to “fix” what’s wrong.

And I DO understand this all too well, it's how I approached my own body and goals for many, many years. I thought being hard on myself was the only way to stay motivated.

Those thoughts still creep in sometimes… but over the years, this is the kind of redirect I try to practice—over and over again.

Instead of:“I’ve let myself go.”

Try:“I’ve been doing my best—and now I’m ready to care for myself differently.”

Instead of:“I can’t believe I messed up again.”

Try:“I noticed a pattern—and I’m learning from it.”

Instead of:“I look disgusting.”

Try:“My body is asking for help—not hate.”

What if your next decision came from self-respect, not self-criticism?

Following through isn’t about needing more motivation.

It’s about setting things up so it’s actually doable—especially when life is messy.

The basics feel hard when you’re overloaded, overthinking, or trying to do everything perfectly.

If you’re tired of starting strong and falling off, it’s probably not a motivation problem. It’s a setup problem.

Here’s how to make follow-through feel easier:

1. Pick one thing you want to be consistent with

2. Ask, “What’s making this harder than it needs to be?”

3. Remove one barrier (prep ahead, simplify, schedule it)

4. Do the simplest version of it today

5. Repeat that—not the perfect version—until it sticks

And that’s it—5 reasons why it may be hard to actually do what we know we need to do. If any of this hit home, I’d love to hear what you’re working on or what’s clicking for you right now. And remember I am always happy to support with your own goals and help you with your own transformation if you need it! You can learn more about how we can work together [here].