“We do not rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems.” — James Clear
Willpower is overrated. High performers know the secret isn’t raw discipline — it’s engineering their environment so the right actions happen automatically. By adding friction to bad habits and removing friction from good ones, you tilt the game board in your favor.
Related Study: Behavioral economists call this “choice architecture” — shaping environments to influence decisions. Research shows that even subtle tweaks (like placing healthy food closer or moving distractions further away) significantly change behavior over time (Thaler & Sunstein, Nudge, 2008).
Why It Works:
✅ Protects you from self-sabotage.
✅ Builds habits without draining willpower.
✅ Turns your environment into an ally instead of an enemy.
Today’s Challenge:
Pick one habit you want more of and one you want less of. Make the good one easier (lay out gym clothes, pre-fill your water bottle). Make the bad one harder (log out of social media, move junk food out of reach).
Bonus Business Tip: Create friction for distractions at work — silence notifications, use website blockers, or require two steps to access non-essential apps. Every extra click is a barrier that protects your focus.
Final Thought:
Discipline fades, but systems endure. Build friction into your environment, and your environment will build you. -1% CheatCode