Chapter 6: Motivation is Overrated, Environment Often Matters More
by John Allen · 17 things on Twos
- The more tightly bound your new habit is to a specific cue, the better the odds are that you will notice when the time comes to act
- Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior
- Some experts estimate that half of the brain’s resources are used on vision
- When the cues that spark a habit are subtle or hidden, they are easy to ignore
- Sprinkle triggers throughout your surroundings to increase the odds that you’ll think about your habit throughout the day
- Most people live in a world others have created for them. Be the designer of your works and not merely the consumer of it.
- Create new routines in new environments
- ✓ Prevent from mixing habits by dividing each space into one action. Aka delete social media off my phone if I can appropriately get it done on my computer
- “Disciplined people are better at structuring their lives in a way that does not require heroic willpower and self-control
- They spend less time in tempting situations
- Create a more disciplined environment = become a more disciplined person
- A habit that has been encoded in the mind is ready to be used whenever the relevant situation arises
- One of the most practical ways to eliminate a bad habit is to reduce exposure to the cue that causes it
- If you can’t get any work done, leave your phone in another room for a few hours
- If you feel like you’re not enough, stop following social media accounts that trigger jealousy
- If you’re wasting too much time watching TV, move it out of the bedroom
- If you’re playing too many video games, unplug the console and put it in a closet after each use