If you’re have trouble sticking to a fitness plan, stop thinking about it in terms of weight loss or even health. Redefine it as essential to every part of your life: Your mental health, your work, your relationships. That way, on days when you could care less whether your thighs get smaller, exercise is still important.

In my own life, work is a priority right now. It would be semi-rational to delay exercise on my to-do calendar until, say, March. So to make sure it happens, I’ve reinstituted the M-F morning run - nothing major, just 20-30 minutes to start the day. Three to five days a week I’m also doing yoga.

But here’s the key: I’m focusing on the morning run not as a gut-buster, but as a creativity stoker. I use it to fire up my brain. My thoughts flow when I’m running, and the change of scene allows me to focus on problems (usually with my writing) from different angles. Sometimes I use the time to focus on an intention for the day, or merely to “commit” mentally to the schedule I’ve prepared. Yes, my work is incredibly important to me now. Wow! Good thing my run is incredibly important to my work.

Time to go lace up my Nikes.