The intention–behavior gap.

You can mean to act and still not act when the moment arrives.

Wanting an outcome and taking the next action are separate steps. An if-then plan can bridge the gap by deciding in advance when and where you will act.

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Tests of if-then plans pooled in one meta-analysis: a real effect, and about half the size it was first reported at.

Sheeran, Listrom & Gollwitzer 2025

Write the plan as one sentence with a time and a place: after I pour my coffee, I read one page. Do it for something you actually want to do.

Also under Decision processes.

FramingThe same outcome can feel different when it is described differently.Status quo biasThe option already chosen often wins by doing nothing.Salience and attentionWhat is easy to notice can get more weight.Effort and frictionA small immediate cost can change whether an action happens.

Sheeran, Listrom & Gollwitzer 2025 · Gollwitzer & Sheeran 2006 · Webb & Sheeran 2006 · Carrera, Royer, Stehr, Sydnor & Taubinsky 2018