10 Tips To Make Your Environment Work For You Not Against You

Your environment either makes or breaks you

We all want to build good habits and get rid of bad ones. However, we approach the habits in the wrong way. We all think that making or breaking a habit is about willpower and self-discipline. But the reality is environment shapes your daily life.

I am currently reading the book — Atomic Habits by James Clear. James talks about how you can easily change your habits by changing your environment. He shares some practical tips that are easy to implement and can elevate the quality of your life.

I found his tips highly insightful so I decided to share them with everyone:

1. Put the TV in your closet and only take it out if you want to watch it:

If you find yourself binge-watching TV every night, this tip can work for you. The reason is to create friction between you and your bad habits. Somedays you will feel that taking out the TV is too much work and you won’t do it. You can use that time to read a book or learn a new skill.

2. Don’t buy snacks, instead buy fruits and nuts:

If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, then this is for you. The reason we eat snacks a lot is because we have easy access to it. Whenever we want to eat potato chips, it’s right there in your kitchen. So stop buying it and buy healthier foods like fruits and nuts. When you get hungry, you won’t have any option but to eat fruits and nuts.

3. Put a book near your pillow after you wake up:

If you want to read more, this tip can work for you. When you go to bed, you will see a book near your pillow so you are more likely to read it. I have tried this trick, it works most of the time.

4. Put the phone in another room while working:

You need to eliminate as many distractions as you can. My phone is in the bedroom right now as I am writing my article in the living room. You can also cure your addiction to a phone using this tip.

5. Put your exercise outfit in the bedroom before going to sleep:

If you wake up and see your running shoes in front of you, you are more like to put on them and go for a run. The same thing works for the yoga mat if you want to do yoga in the morning.

6. Always put a water bottle near your work desk:

If you find yourself dehydrated most times, you can use this trick. If there is water near you all the time, you will drink more water.

I have my water bottle on the desk as I am writing this article.

7. Write your tasks on a sticky note and put them on your laptop or computer:

This will be a constant reminder that you have not finished your tasks yet. You are likely to finish most tasks, if not all.

I always write my goals on a sheet of paper and keep them with me throughout the day.

8. Put a musical instrument in the living room, if you want to learn:

I always keep my guitar in the living room. Earlier, I used to put my guitar in the bedroom and I rarely practiced because it was out of my sight all the time. Now, I see my guitar all the time and practice two or three times a day.

9. Put motivational quotes in your workplace:

This tip is useful when you are feeling down. When I don’t feel like working, I look at my quotes and get an instant burst of motivation which is enough for a couple of hours.

I highly recommend it. We need a constant boost of motivation and what better way to get it than using your favorite quotes.

10. Surround yourself with positive people:

This is probably the most important of all.

“You are the average of the 5 closest friends you have.”

Surround yourself with people who motivate you, who push you to become better.

If you don’t have any, then become one. If you have a positive attitude, you will attract people with positive attitudes.

I hope you find these tips helpful and do share your results if you apply them in your life.