You don’t need more self-control.
You need an environment that doesn’t require it.
3 environment design tips (to make your goals inevitable):
You need an environment that doesn’t require it.
3 environment design tips (to make your goals inevitable):
“Environment is an invisible hand that shapes human behavior.” —James Clear
The good news?
You can make the invisible hand YOUR hand by designing smarter spaces.
Nudging your future self to be your best self.
Here we go, 3 environment design tips…
The good news?
You can make the invisible hand YOUR hand by designing smarter spaces.
Nudging your future self to be your best self.
Here we go, 3 environment design tips…
1. Eliminate Visual Cues for Bad Habits
Place a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in my fridge…
I might not have it the first four times I see it (make that three, err…two),
But you better believe I’m going to eat it eventually.
Place a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in my fridge…
I might not have it the first four times I see it (make that three, err…two),
But you better believe I’m going to eat it eventually.
Here, the expression “out of sight, out of mind” holds.
My advice: Consider each item in your living space (one by one) and ask:
“Is this prompting a good or bad habit?”
After that, it’s time to hide, donate, or sell the items that prompt bad habits.
Be ruthless.
My advice: Consider each item in your living space (one by one) and ask:
“Is this prompting a good or bad habit?”
After that, it’s time to hide, donate, or sell the items that prompt bad habits.
Be ruthless.
2. Create Obvious Visual Cues for Good Habits
Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian, wanted to write daily.
So he started marking the completion of each session with a big “X” on a wall calendar.
This became known as the Chain Method—
A visual display that nudges habit completion.
Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian, wanted to write daily.
So he started marking the completion of each session with a big “X” on a wall calendar.
This became known as the Chain Method—
A visual display that nudges habit completion.
A few more ideas for empowering visual cues:
• Layout your exercise clothes—next to the bed—for tomorrow's workout.
• Maintain a water bottle within reach.
• Place hard copies of your favorite books in sight (I keep The Daily Stoic on my coffee table).
• Layout your exercise clothes—next to the bed—for tomorrow's workout.
• Maintain a water bottle within reach.
• Place hard copies of your favorite books in sight (I keep The Daily Stoic on my coffee table).
3. Create a powerful inner circle
Your environment extends beyond your home
(Like the relationships you keep).
So evaluate your relationships:
• Spend more time with people who inspire you
• Spend less time with people who dull you
Your environment extends beyond your home
(Like the relationships you keep).
So evaluate your relationships:
• Spend more time with people who inspire you
• Spend less time with people who dull you
The friends you keep make a world of difference.
Here’s what studies show (courtesy of @BStulberg):
Here’s what studies show (courtesy of @BStulberg):
Bonus Tip: Start Fresh
During the pandemic, I moved with my GF to a mountain home in VT.
I wouldn't have written this thread if I were still living in NYC.
Instead, I'd be nursing a hangover—
A lifestyle I'd perpetuated to 'fit in' rather than one that brought me any real joy
During the pandemic, I moved with my GF to a mountain home in VT.
I wouldn't have written this thread if I were still living in NYC.
Instead, I'd be nursing a hangover—
A lifestyle I'd perpetuated to 'fit in' rather than one that brought me any real joy
If you follow everything else in this post EXCEPT moving to a new environment,
You’ll make massive gains in personal development.
That said, here’s the gift of starting fresh:
A clean slate. To disrupt negative behavior patterns (that might be holding you back).
You’ll make massive gains in personal development.
That said, here’s the gift of starting fresh:
A clean slate. To disrupt negative behavior patterns (that might be holding you back).
TL;DR Designing Your Environment
1. Eliminate Visual Cues for Bad Habits
2. Create Obvious Visual Cues for Good Habits
3. Build a Powerful Inner Circle
4. Bonus Tip: Start Fresh
Try these and watch your life transform in 2023.
1. Eliminate Visual Cues for Bad Habits
2. Create Obvious Visual Cues for Good Habits
3. Build a Powerful Inner Circle
4. Bonus Tip: Start Fresh
Try these and watch your life transform in 2023.
Special shoutout to @TheDanKoe for inspiring the title of this thread. He’s one of the highest-value follows around.
Thanks for reading!
Want to dive deeper into Environment Design?
Check out my Ultimate Guide (it’s free):
systemsunday.com
Want to dive deeper into Environment Design?
Check out my Ultimate Guide (it’s free):
systemsunday.com
P.S. If you like productivity, you'll love my weekly newsletter (again, it’s free).
Every Sunday I feature the best tech products for wealth, health, and free time.
Try it here:
getrevue.co
Every Sunday I feature the best tech products for wealth, health, and free time.
Try it here:
getrevue.co
Loading suggestions...