Lake Ontario, Toronto Beaches, January 2026

It’s been four weeks since I wrote about setting goals and tracking everything properly. I felt organised, motivated and clear on the plan. Physio three times a week. Four workouts a week. Track everything I eat and drink.

Well, I have done none of that.

Not in a dramatic, everything’s fallen apart kind of way. Just in a very ordinary, life got busy and I didn’t manage it kind of way.

My new job has gotten really busy. I knew it would be full on, but knowing that and living it are two different things. It’s been very easy to slip back into old habits of not prioritising my own health. On commuting days I’m up at 6.30am and I just don’t think I’m someone who can spring out of bed at 5am to do burpees in the dark. Maybe when the mornings get lighter, we’ll see! By the time I get home, eat dinner and usually log back on for a few more hours, the evening has disappeared and it’s time for bed. Then the cycle starts again the next day.

I was also away in France for a week at a trade show with work. I packed my trainers and resistance bands with genuine optimism. They stayed at the bottom of my suitcase the entire trip. The days were long, back to back meetings at the show, dinners with suppliers in the evening and laptop again before bed. I chose sleep over trying to squeeze in a rushed workout, which I’m confident was the right decision. I still had a full week of feeling sleep deprived once I got home.

Looking out over Lake Ontario at Ashbridges Bay, Toronto, January 2026

In amongst all of that there have been some really good things too. The week before I travelled, my sister visited with my seven month old nephew and a friend. I don’t see them often as they live in the UK, so getting home in time to see my nephew for bath time and a bedtime story felt more important than getting a workout in. We also had a long weekend away with friends filled with wintery outdoor activities: snowshoeing, cross country skiing and even a polar dip!

So yes, I didn’t stick to the plan. I didn’t track. I didn’t hit the numbers I said I would. But the last few weeks weren’t wasted. Alongside finding my feet at work, they were filled with family time I won’t get back and outdoor fun with friends.

I’m not scrapping the plan. I’ve got just under five weeks until we go skiing and I know I’ll enjoy that trip more if I feel stronger. The goals are still there. I just needed to get through a busy stretch and find my rhythm again.

So I’m back at it, giving it another go. This morning we took Tess for a long walk on the beach and I did a 20 minute HIIT cycle on the peloton this afternoon, and I feel so much better for it. Bring on the next 5 weeks, let's get ski ready!

When Life Gets in the Way of the Plan

Setting Goals and Tracking