Optimising Your Environment

Our environment influences who we are and what we do, and is made up of several components :

• Physical environment

  • Our home, workplace, the geography and climate of the area we live, etc

• Social environment

  • The people we know and the interactions we have with them

• Cultural environment

  • “The way we do things here”; the cultural rules, expectations and codes of conduct

• Intellectual environment

  • The ideas and beliefs that surround and stimulate us, educational practices and so on

The great thing is that we have the power to make modifications to one or more of these components in order to structure the environment to our advantage.

When you’ve decided that it’s time to make a change, no matter how big or small it may be, it’s important to begin from a supportive foundation. This increases your chances of building changes that are long-lasting, and starts with a simple two-part framework.

Practical Applications

Part 1. Where can you have LESS of what makes things HARDER?

What are the elements of your environment that act as barriers or obstacles to achieving your goal? What are the things that trigger your unwanted behaviours?

When you want LESS of something, move it FURTHER away

Make it harder, more annoying or more inconvenient.

For example, if your goal is to be more focused and productive when working from home:

• Move distractions out of your work space

• Keep only what is absolutely needed for work in the home office

• Turn off non-urgent notifications

• Keep tempting snacks out of the house to avoid the 3pm “I’m bored, what’s in the fridge?” ritual

Part 2. Where can you have MORE of what makes things EASIER?

Where can you add more support and convenience to your life? Who are the helpful people you can turn to? What other elements of your environment will help you sustain your progress towards your goal?

When you want MORE of something, move it CLOSER

Make it easier and more convenient.

For example, if you have set yourself the goal of working out more frequently:

• Sign up to your work or local gym, instead of the trendy one 30 minutes away

• Get your family on board with the fitness routine, and do active things together

• Make movement a thing that happens in your home; try online workouts, a daily walk, a weekly game of the family’s favourite sport

Combining these approaches doubles their power. For example:

• Move overly sugary or salty snacks out of the kitchen, and move healthy snacks in

• Remove distractions from your office, and add things that inspire creativity and productivity

• Spend less time with negative influences, and more time with positive ones

Thanks for reading!