Coaching practices for I've Identified the Area I Want to Change and Now I'm Just Sitting on a Vague Intention Like Be More Present with My Kids it Sounds Good and Then Nothing Happens Because I Haven't Pinned it to an Actual Behavior at an Actual Time
Describe almost anything you are working through and IX Coach finds the practices whose real-world fit is closest. For I've Identified the Area I Want to Change and Now I'm Just Sitting on a Vague Intention Like Be More Present with My Kids it Sounds Good and Then Nothing Happens Because I Haven't Pinned it to an Actual Behavior at an Actual Time, these are the strongest matches in the current practice library.
Does this sound like the set of challenges you might be facing?
- I’ve identified the area I want to change and now I’m just sitting on a vague intention like "be more present with my kids"
- I genuinely mean to do it, but the day swallows it every time and “I’ll get to it” never actually turns into doing it
- I keep telling myself I’ll get to it "sometime today" and then the day just dissolves and I never do
- I keep saying I want to "get healthier" or "be more present," but it stays a foggy wish
- I genuinely intend to do the thing, but the day just fills up and suddenly it’s night and I never found the moment
Practices that may help
- Turn the chosen domain into a committed action
Convert the domain insight into a concrete, timed, values-linked behavior — not a vague intention.
Values Bullseye, Made Practical - Write when, where, and how plans for every behavioral goal
Specify exactly when, where, and how you will act — not just what you intend to do.
Action Planning - Specify the when and where for every goal action
"I will do [behavior] at [time] in [location]" — specificity creates an automatic trigger.
If–Then Planning, Made Practical - Specific — name the exact behavior or result
Replace “get fit” with a single, concrete target you could photograph or count.
SMART Goals That Actually Move - Make it obvious with an implementation intention
Pre-decide the when-and-where: “I will [behavior] at [time] in [location].”
Atomic Habits, Made Practical - Attach approach goals to implementation intentions
Lock approach goals to specific when-and-where plans so the positive aim has a concrete trigger.
Approach vs Avoidance Goals - Set if-then implementation intentions for goal behaviors
Specify when, where, and how you’ll act — not just whether you intend to.
Hyperbolic Discounting — Why Future You Always Gets the Short End - Prime your identity with environmental cues
Place objects, images, or phrases that represent your desired identity in the spaces where the relevant behavior happens.
Identity Priming, Made Practical - Make tiny tweaks, not heroic leaps
Change behavior by adjusting the smallest action in the direction of your values — not by waiting until you feel ready.
Emotional Agility, Made Practical - Committed action
Take concrete steps toward your values, again and again, even when discomfort shows up.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Made Practical
Related concerns
- Implementation Intention Performance
Specify when, where, and how you’ll act — not just whether you intend to.
Set if-then implementation intentions for goal behaviors
- Implementation Intention Steps
Specify exactly when, where, and how you will act — not just what you intend to do.
Write when, where, and how plans for every behavioral goal
- Implementation Intention When Where
Specify exactly when, where, and how you will act — not just what you intend to do.
- Implementation Intentions Management
Specify when, where, and how you’ll act — not just whether you intend to.
- When Action Planning When Where How Plan
Specify exactly when, where, and how you will act — not just what you intend to do.
- When Atomic Habits Implementation Intentions
Pre-decide the when-and-where: “I will [behavior] at [time] in [location].”
Make it obvious with an implementation intention
Describe your situation in your own words to search the complete practice library.