Humans naturally gravitate toward the option requiring the least work; design habits to be the path of least resistance.
Adding just 20 seconds of effort (the time to plug in a TV or re-enter a password) can be enough to break an automatic behavior loop. Conversely, reducing 20 seconds (laying out workout clothes) can make a good habit much more likely.
The Principle of Least Effort means people are lazy, when it actually reflects efficient cognitive resource allocation—our brains conserve energy for important decisions.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Strategically adding or removing small obstacles to make desired behaviors easier and undesired behaviors harder.
Scale down any habit to a two-minute version to overcome starting friction: 'Exercise for 30 minutes' becomes 'Put on workout clothes.'
Behavior is shaped by environment more than willpower; design spaces to make good habits obvious and bad habits invisible.
Behavior is shaped by environment more than willpower; design spaces to make good habits obvious and bad habits invisible.
Strategically adding or removing small obstacles to make desired behaviors easier and undesired behaviors harder.