When a Habit Slips, What Should Change First?

When a routine stops working, the instinct is often to restart it with more determination. But the useful adjustment might be smaller: change the timing, reduce the commitment, or admit that it no longer fits.

Imagine you meant to spend 20 minutes on a learning project three times a week, but the sessions keep getting displaced. What would help you tell whether the obstacle is the routine itself, too many commitments, or a goal you no longer want?

I’d be interested in the evidence you’d use before deciding to adjust, pause, or finish—and what review point would give that decision a fair test.