January gyms are full; February gyms are not. The usual explanation is “no willpower.” The real one is usually simpler: people start with a routine built for their best week, then meet a normal week and fall off the cliff.

A program you can only do when everything goes perfectly is a program you will abandon. The fix isn’t more discipline — it’s lower friction:

• Three sessions, not six. Two you’ll actually keep beats five you won’t.
• 45 minutes, not 90. Short enough that a busy day doesn’t kill it.
• A floor, not a ceiling. On a bad day, doing the minimum still counts. Missing entirely is what breaks the habit.

Consistency compounds; intensity doesn’t, if it stops you showing up. Build for your average week, not your best one.