Consistency Without Rules: A Rebel’s Way to Achieving Their Goals
Some people thrive on structure.
They love daily schedules, time blocks, checklists, and color-coded planners. They’re the ones who get things done exactly when they planned — like “Monday 9:13am: Deep work session.”
(And yes, Rebels can love planning too. It’s the showing up for the plan that can feel difficult.)
But some of us?
The moment we have to do something, even if we’re the ones who wrote it down, resistance appears. Suddenly the task feels heavy. You knew you wanted to do it, you planned it, and yet… you can’t make yourself follow through.
If that’s you, you might be what Gretchen Rubin calls a Rebel personality type — someone who values freedom, autonomy, independence, and choice above everything else. Rebels can accomplish incredible things, but only when they use systems that work with their nature, not against it.
Here’s the method that finally made consistency feel more natural for me.
Why Rebels Resist Their Own Plans
Rebels don’t resist tasks.
They resist obligation.
Anything that sounds like:
I have to,
I must,
It’s in my planner so I’m stuck doing it,
can trigger immediate pushback — even if the plan came from your own mind (and enthusiasm) the day before.
This includes:
rigid daily routines
hour-by-hour schedules
tightly structured mornings
to-do lists broken down to the minute
It’s not laziness or lack of discipline.
It’s a core need for freedom.
Rebels too need structure, but they cannot thrive under rigidity.
The Weekly Rebel Method (My #1 Tip)
Instead of planning your days, you plan your week.
This gives you direction without pressure and freedom without chaos — the perfect combination for a Rebel.
1. Use one single page for the whole week.
You can do this on Sunday evening, using the upcoming Sunday page from your planner, or you can use a completely separate page if that feels more freeing.
The goal is simply to create one clear weekly overview — not a daily breakdown.
2. Create categories.
For example:
Health & Wellness
Work or Business
Personal
Learning or Skills
Finances or Money Goals
3. Under each category, write the minimum things you want completed by next Sunday.
Not the fantasy version of yourself.
Not the strict version.
The realistic minimum that still moves you forward.
And for goodness’ sake — make it something more exciting than a “to-do list.” Call it your I-can’t-wait-to-show-up-for-this list, or your Becoming Her list, or your My Most Empowered Week list. Anything that makes you feel like you’re stepping into a version of yourself you’re proud of.
Health & Wellness
Strength training ○ ○ ○
Walks ○ ○ ○
Meal prep ○
Personal
Practice French ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
4. Don’t assign days or times.
No Monday at 9am.
No rigid time blocks.
Just: These are the outcomes I will complete by the end of the week.
5. Choose when you do each item.
This preserves the Rebel’s sacred value — freedom — while still creating consistency.
One option I love is taking five minutes in the morning (warm cup of coffee in hand) and choosing what you’ll pull from your weekly menu for the day. It becomes a cozy ritual of intention-setting, anchored in choice and freedom.
Why This Works for Rebels
Rebels are motivated by three things:
Identity
This is who I am.
Freedom
I choose when and how I do things.
Vision
This aligns with the life I’m creating.
A weekly plan supports all three.
You decide what matters.
You decide when to do it.
You form the identity of someone who shows up — not because you’re forced to, but because you choose to.
Structure without suffocation.
Accountability without pressure.
The Power of Minimums
Setting minimums (not maximums) is a game-changer for Rebels.
If you write Walk six times this week and walk four, you’ll feel like you fell short.
But if you write Walk three times and end up doing five, suddenly you feel like Cher — sweeping through your week with that untouchable, iconic energy.
Same behavior.
Completely different emotional impact.
Rebels thrive when they surpass expectations — not when they feel boxed in by them.
Set the minimum. Add on if you’re inspired.
Supporting Your System With Mindset Tools
Your weekly plan becomes even more effective when you layer in gentle mindset tools.
Have a Plan B
Life happens.
Having a softer alternative prevents all-or-nothing spirals.
I dive deeper into this in my book Radiance. When life gets messy, using the If–When method (choosing a lighter version of your habit instead of quitting or going extreme) becomes a complete life-saver.
You catch yourself doing something that doesn’t support your vision, then negotiate one tiny step you are willing to take.
Often, once you start the tiny step, you end up completing the whole task.
(It’s sneaky. It works.)
The Weekly Planner as a Menu (Not a Mandate)
This is one of my favorite parts.
Think of your weekly 1-pager as a menu, not a strict schedule.
Each day, you simply look at the page and ask:
What feels like the best fit for my energy today (including the one thing I may not want to do but know will make my week easier)?
It becomes a little game —
like choosing from a restaurant menu based on what you’re in the mood for.
It’s fun.
It’s intentional.
And it removes that suffocating feeling of “It’s 9:45 and I have to do X.”
And yes, sometimes the thing you pick isn’t glamorous — like making that annoying phone call you’ve been postponing for four months. But choosing it yourself still feels very different from being told you “must” do it.
It keeps momentum alive without the pressure of rigid scheduling.
Freedom + structure = Rebel consistency.
Consistency Without Rigidity
You don’t need to change your personality to reach your goals.
You simply need systems that respect your wiring.
Rebels aren’t inconsistent — they’re just allergic to rigidity.
When you give yourself freedom, flexibility, and meaning (within structure) you show up naturally.
More often than not, you show up because you want to.
Not because you’re forced to.
Try it yourself…
One page.
Three to five categories.
Three to five circles under each.
Clear intentions.
Minimums only.
Everything else is overflow.
by Lior xo
🌸 Ready to Embody Your Future Self?
This post is inspired by the Mindset pillar from my book, Radiance: Women’s Holistic Wellness Guide — Three Pillars to Stop Self-Sabotage, Reclaim Your Vitality, Love the Skin You’re In, and Glow Up.
Inside, you’ll find:
Mindset tools for self-discipline and clarity — so you stop overthinking and start creating real change.
Practices for rewiring old beliefs — shifting your inner dialogue and embodying your confident, radiant self.
Soft discipline rituals — that help you stay consistent without the burnout or guilt.
Get your copy of Radiance and start building the mindset and habits your future self will thank you for.