Fresh Start Monday: #039: Let environment nurture behavior

Last weekend, I drove up to West Magnolia trailhead (8500ft), about 30min from Boulder, for a trail run. On my drive up, I saw climbers hiking with crash pads on their way to a crag, people unloading their kayaks onto a lake, and road bikers climbing the 3000 feet of elevation through winding mountain roads.

I had a good run, but bigger than that, I returned inspired by the outdoor playground playing out all around me.

I bought a mountain bike the next day.

Weirdly, I've never owned a bike as an adult. I've thought about it for years and have repeatedly researched but have never pulled the trigger.

The environment around me that day was powerful enough to promote an action and a lifestyle that I wanted.

If you want to take up cycling, the obvious solution is to buy a bike. But would I have enjoyed cycling when I lived in Los Angeles?

Don't focus on the actual behavior when you want to change something in your life or shift your lifestyle. Think bigger. Think about the environment surrounding the behavior.

Let's try a micro example that sparked this newsletter.

I blocked Monday morning to finish this week's newsletter. Yet, when I sat down, all I could muster was browsing through REI's anniversary sales. The problem was I slept for six hours.

I knew from experience sitting with my laptop trying to write would lead to more distractions. Instead, I took my coffee and sat in a chair in my backyard with a journal. The change in atmosphere and utensil sparked the words you're reading now.

A few environments to think about:

• Is my desk or workspace set up to be productive?

• Is my kitchen stocked to promote healthy choices?

• Is my location congruent with the lifestyle I want?

• Is my gym or exercise easy to say yes to?

Your intended behavior flows naturally from your chosen, curated, and calibrated environment.