If sticking your phone in another room doesn’t seem like enough, tell a friend or family member to hide it from you for a few hours.Ask a coworker to keep it at their desk in the morning and give it back to you at lunch.It is remarkable how little friction is required to prevent unwanted behavior.When I hide beer in the back of the fridge where I can’t see it, I drink less.When I delete social media apps from my phone, it can be weeks before I download them again and log in.These tricks are unlikely to curb a true addiction, but for many of us, a little bit of friction can be the difference between sticking with a good habit or sliding into a bad one.Imagine the cumulative impact of making dozens of these changes and living in an environment designed to make the good behaviors easier and the bad behaviors harder.Whether we are approaching behavior change as an individual, a parent, a coach, or a leader, we should ask ourselves the same question: “How can we design a world where it’s easy to do what’s right?”Redesign your life so the actions that matter most are also the actions that are easiest to do.Chapter SummaryHuman behavior follows the Law of Least Effort.We will naturally gravitate toward the option that requires the least amount of work.Create an environment where doing the right thing is as easy as possible.Reduce the friction associated with good behaviors.When friction is low, habits are easy.Increase the friction associated with bad behaviors.When friction is high, habits are difficult.Prime your environment to make future actions easier.
These tricks are unlikely to curb a true addiction, but for many of us, a little bit of friction can be the difference between sticking with a good habit or sliding into a bad one.
Imagine the cumulative impact of making dozens of these changes and living in an environment designed to make the good behaviors easier and the bad behaviors harder.
Whether we are approaching behavior change as an individual, a parent, a coach, or a leader, we should ask ourselves the same question: “How can we design a world where it’s easy to do what’s right?”