Design your environment for success: The long-term strategy to foster good habits

Making things obvious is effective in creating good habits. If you want to exercise more, try placing your exercise clothes beside your bed. The presence of the clothes will remind you to exercise every time you wake up. If you want to create a habit of reading, place your book on the work table so you cannot avoid seeing it. Doing this will reduce the amount of willpower needed to take action. Try to notice your environment. Are things in the right spot for you to do them?

Some habits give you delayed rewards. For example, exercising can be unpleasant in the present but rewarding in the future. However, creating a routine that gives you an immediate payoff will help make the habit more appealing. For example, you can reward yourself for meditating by eating a cookie. You can treat yourself to a massage after you exercise. Crafting your habits this way will give you both short-term and long-term rewards and increase your motivation.

Is there any immediate reward you can attach to the habit you’re trying to make? Making the benefits more obvious will go a long way to helping you succeed.

You can create better habits by making good things more visible and undesirable things out of sight.

You can rely on your willpower from time to time. But designing your environment the right way will ensure long-term success.