Environment Is Stronger Than Willpower
How Changing Your Environment Is The Easiest Way To Change Your Habits
I can’t stop.
The pantry in our home is right next to the fridge and it’s way too easy to walk over to it, open the door, and grab a snack that I don’t need.
I am trying to eat healthier and lose a couple pounds. Having such easy access to junk food is not making it any easier. Add to that, the post pig-out sugar-coma shame, which makes me feel even worse. It’s a cycle, and as benign as it may sound, it’s getting in the way of me fulfilling my goals.
Change is hard, especially if your environment is set up in a way that doesn’t support the change you desire.
In my opinion, the easiest way to change or integrate a habit is to first change your environment.
If you want to play more music, leave the guitar out on a stand in a room you are frequently in. The guitar isn’t worth more if it just sits in its case, not getting played. Well, it could be I guess, but only if you’re trying to maximize the resale value of the guitar and not actively playing it, maybe it’s time to let it go anyway. You don’t need the clutter. Not in your mind and not in your living space.
The point is, if you are trying to change or integrate a habit, you stand a better chance of succeeding if you first set up your environment in a way that is conducive to achieving your goal.
Want to run more? Leave your running shoes and an outfit by the door so that all you have to do is put them on and go.
Want to write more? Set up a writing station (even if it’s small and modest) so that every time you walk into the room you see it and feel inspired to write.
Want to change your negative thoughts? Print a list of five things that you are grateful for, or a list of five positive affirmations, and tape it to the wall where you will see them every day.
Environment is stronger than willpower!
I think I first heard this phrase on a Tim Ferriss podcast, and it stuck with me. I’ve implemented it in my life and it has worked. I’m reminding myself of this as much as I am you. I need to follow this advice in my own life right now. Not just with my eating habits, but also my inability to stop watching YouTube, my lack of physical exercise, etc . . .
It’s so much more work to rely on willpower to make change.
For me, I need to stop eating so many damn snacks. I could try to fight the urge, despite seeing those delicious chocolate chip cookies in the panty, or I could just not buy them in the first place.
I don’t need to rely on myself to make a better eating decision. I already did. I eliminated the possibility of a late-night cookie raid by not buying cookies. My environment is void of cookies, and as a result, I don’t have to fight off the cookie monster inside of me.
This realization is permission to move forward. You can achieve your goals more easily if you setup your space in a way that allows you to make the desired choice automatic. Change your setup so that you don’t have to will your way to success.
Change your environment to change your habits. Eliminate negative stimuli.
Exercising willpower is exhausting and on those days where you’re already cooked, it can be damn near impossible to make the right decision.
When I’m tired, I need the most help. My will has already been crushed down by the demands of the day. I don’t have the strength to say no. If my environment is set up in a way where I don’t have the option, it’s easy. I simply can’t eat a batch of cookies because there are no cookies. I set up my environment to match my goal — buy less snacks so that I automatically eat less snacks.
If you’re out there trying to create change in your life, do yourself a favor and set up your space in a way where creating the change is much easier. Align your environment with your desired outcome. Create change in your environment first so that you don’t have to rely on willpower alone.
If you want to create new habits, first create the environment that will help you do so. You don’t have to redesign your whole life. Start with one small step.
What is the first thing you can do today to change your environment and get closer to where you want to be?
Go make that change now.
Don’t rely on willpower.
Environment is stronger than willpower.