The Psychology of Commitment

Why booking ahead is one of the kindest things you can do for your wellbeing

There’s a moment that often decides whether wellbeing becomes a reality - remains simply as a good intention.

It’s not when you think about doing Pilates, or a bathhouse session, or finally booking that massage.
It’s the moment you commit - when you choose a time, book it in, and protect it.

Because as it turns out, that small act carries far more weight than we realise.

Why intention isn’t enough

Psychologists have long studied what’s known as the intention–action gap - the space between what we want to do and what we actually follow through on.

Research consistently shows that simply having a goal (“I want to move more” or “I need to prioritise my wellbeing”) is often not enough to change behaviour.

What does make a difference is deciding in advance when and where that action will happen.

This is called an implementation intention - essentially a plan that looks like:
“On Tuesday at 6pm, I’m going to Pilates.”

A large body of research, including meta-analyses across dozens of studies, shows that forming these kinds of specific plans significantly increases the likelihood of following through - often with moderate to large improvements in behaviour change.

In other words: booking the class is the behaviour change.

Why booking ahead builds habits

There’s another layer to this.

Habits don’t come from motivation - they come from repetition in a consistent context.

When you attend the same class at the same time each week, or book regular sessions into your calendar, you’re creating a rhythm your body and mind begin to recognise.

Over time, that rhythm becomes easier. More automatic. Less negotiable.

Studies on physical activity show that planning and implementation strategies not only increase initial participation, but can also strengthen ongoing habit formation and adherence over time.

So what feels like “getting organised” is actually something deeper - it’s the early stage of building a habit that can support you long-term.

A booking is a quiet commitment

There’s also something subtle but important that happens when you book ahead.

You’re making a decision for your future self.

Behavioural research describes this as a form of commitment - where a decision made in advance reduces the friction of having to choose again later, when you’re busy, tired, or distracted.

It removes the daily negotiation. And for many of us, that’s where wellbeing falls down - not in desire, but in decision fatigue.

Why this matters at Trinity

Trinity was intentionally designed as a boutique, considered space.

That means:

• Limited mats in each class

• Limited bathhouse capacity

• Limited LED lounge availability

We protect this because it creates the experience our community values - calm, spacious, personalised. But it also means that leaving your wellbeing to “I’ll see how my day looks” can sometimes lead to missing out. And we never want that for you.

A simple shift that changes everything

If there’s one thing we encourage, it’s this:

Don’t leave your wellbeing to chance. Choose your sessions. Book them in. Let them become part of the structure of your week - not something that happens if there’s time, but something that shapes how you feel.

Because your future self doesn’t need more motivation. She needs a place reserved.