I've spent a lot of time thinking about why people who start working out at home rarely make it past week 2 — myself included, back when I started.

It's not lack of motivation. It's not lack of a gym. It's decision fatigue.

Every day you have to decide: what am I doing today, how many sets, how long, do I even have time. That decision-making burns willpower before you've done a single rep. By day 10, you're out of willpower and you skip the workout "just this once." That once becomes never.

The fix isn't more motivation. It's removing the decision entirely.

Three things that actually move the needle for beginners:

1. Same time, same place, every day — even if it's just 10 minutes. Your brain stops treating it as a decision and starts treating it as a routine, like brushing your teeth.

2. Pre-written workouts, not "figure it out that day." If you have to think about what to do, you've already lost half your energy before you start.

3. Track the streak, not the intensity. Beginners who chase "no missed days" for 30 days build a habit that lasts. Beginners who chase "best workout ever" burn out in a week.

None of this requires equipment, a gym membership, or an hour a day. It requires removing friction.

If you're just starting out — pick a fixed 15-20 minute window today, write down (or save) exactly what you'll do tomorrow before you go to bed, and don't let yourself decide in the moment. That one change alone will get you further than any amount of "motivation."

Curious what's worked (or not worked) for others here — what actually got you to stick with a routine?