Why Setting Up Your Environment Is More Important Than Willpower Alone, for Living a More Fulfilled Life
We as humans are creatures of habit. Our brains are wired to seek out patterns and routines in our daily lives. Habits allow us to automate many of our behaviours and conserve mental energy, which is why we often find comfort in familiar actions and situations. We often stick to our routines and patterns of how we live our lives. By considering our system, and our environment, we can be more mindful of how we can set up our routine and habits to foster success.
Research has shown that habits can be difficult to break because they are deeply ingrained in our neural pathways. However, by being aware of our habits and consciously working to change them, we can rewire our brains and form new, healthier habits over time.
The Book 'Willpower Doesn't Work'
I recently read the book, 'Willpower Doesn't Work', a book by Benjamin Hardy, a motivational speaker and writer. Although the book's title may present the book as 'clickbait', I would have you reconsider, particularly as it relates to habit formation. The book challenges the traditional idea that willpower as being the key to success, and argues that willpower alone is not enough to achieve our goals.
According to the book, willpower is a limited resource that depletes throughout the day. When we rely solely on willpower to achieve our goals, we are more likely to fail as our willpower is finite and runs out.
Yet Hardy has us consider how the environment plays a key role in our success. He argues that our environment has a significant impact on our behaviour and ability to achieve our goals. By creating a supportive environment that aligns with our goals, we can reduce the need for willpower and make it easier to achieve success.
Hardy states that habits are more important than willpower. However, it should be pointed out, that Hardy does not deny that willpower does not exist or is not important, but rather the book has us focus on setting up the conditions to nurture and foster our finite willpower. His book's suggestions and recommendations, relates to a similar collection of books concerning behaviouralism, particularly as it relates to being more productive and fulfilled as a human. Two books that stand out for me our:'Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything'. written by BJ Fogg, a behavioral scientist and researcher at Stanford University; as well as the popular book 'The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business', which was written by Charles Duhigg, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.
The Book 'Atomic Habits'
Another insightful book that stands out for me, in this collection of habit books, is the book 'Atomic Habits', a book by James Clear. James Clear is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who writes about habits and productivity. Clear offers a practical guide for developing good habits and breaking bad ones. The book is based on the idea that small, consistent changes in behavior can have a profound impact on one's life over time. Clear argues that the key to developing good habits is to focus on small changes that can be sustained over time, rather than trying to make big changes all at once. He has the notion of '1% Better', which is the notion that small, consistent improvements over time can lead to significant changes and transformations in our lives that compound and grow over time. A central notion behind Clear's prescription is the idea of having us consider how habits are formed. The stages of habits are a framework that explains how habits form and evolve over time. This framework was first introduced by Charles Duhigg in his book 'The Power of Habit'. According to Duhigg, there are three stages of habits: the cue, the routine, and the reward.
The Importance of Consider the 'Cue' When Instilling a Habit
The 'cue', in habit formation, refers to a specific trigger or stimulus that initiates a particular behaviour or habit. It can be anything in the environment, such as a sight, a sound, a smell, a location, a time of day, or even an emotional state. The cue signals to the brain to engage in a particular habit or behaviour that has been associated with it through previous experiences or learning.
For example, let's say you want to read more. Perhaps you have struggled with reading 30 minutes a day, a goal you know is possible. In order to follow through on this habit, perhaps you bring your Kindle or book with you and every time you ride the subway or public transit, you read. So the sight and sound of getting on the train every morning can get you to associate reading with riding the train. This habit has been something I have been practicing. By consistently linking the cue with the behaviour, the brain begins to associate the two, making it more likely that the behaviour will occur in response to the cue.
Understanding the role of cues in habit formation is essential for changing or breaking existing habits, as identifying and modifying the cues associated with an unwanted behaviour can help to weaken or eliminate the habit.
The Importance of Self-Awareness and Mindfulness of Our Emotions
By creating healthy habits that align with our goals, we can reduce the need for willpower and make it easier to achieve our objectives.
The book, 'Willpower Doesn't Work' also suggests that our emotions play a significant role in our behaviour and ability to achieve our goals. By understanding and managing our emotions, we can reduce the need for willpower and improve our chances of success.
Self-awareness, for Hardy, is essential. The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in achieving our goals. By understanding our strengths, weaknesses, and triggers, we can create strategies that help us overcome obstacles and stay on track.
Conclusion
Overall, 'Willpower Doesn't Work' challenges the traditional notion that willpower is the key to success and offers a new perspective on how we can achieve our goals. By focusing on our environment, habits, emotions, and self-awareness, we can create a more sustainable approach to achieving success.
Some general practices or suggestions to support behaviour change and develop healthier habits include:
- Setting specific, achievable goals and breaking them down into smaller, actionable steps
- Creating a supportive environment that encourages positive behaviour change
- Tracking progress and celebrating small successes along the way
- Develop a daily routine that supports your goals and aligns with your values
- Practicing self-compassion and avoiding negative self-talk or feelings of guilt if you slip up
- Focusing on the long-term benefits of behaviour change and finding intrinsic motivation to sustain the new habits.
- Surround yourself with others on a similar path, particularly those who have been successful and consistent.
