Environment
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Change your environment and the people you spend time with if they judge you instead of supporting you.
You are influenced by the people around you.
one person who lived it
Deep clean your room and closet, selling or donating items you don't need.
A clean room acts as a catalyst for other goals and helps your skin long term.
one person who lived it
Try traveling or moving away from your current environment long-term to find new motivation; one person reported that shocking their environment by moving countries was the only way they seriously changed.
You may need to see and feel something that motivates you again.
- Extreme advice
- One person's experience
one person who lived it
Keep shady trees in your yard instead of replacing them with concrete or plastic grass.
Removing trees increases heat.
one person who lived it
Improve your space with comfort items like a rug and use a board for affirmations and breathing reminders.
It helped one person feel more comfortable.
- This is based on one person's experience improving their own space.
one person who lived it
If your home environment triggers bad habits, spend as little time there as possible.
Everything in the home may remind you of the habits you are trying to eliminate.
one person who lived it
Become friends with disciplined people who go to the gym to get motivated by association.
It works.
one person who lived it
If you can afford it, rent a room elsewhere to escape a negative living environment.
It removes you from the negativity.
- Swapping apartments may prevent you from saving money.
one person who lived it
Delete social media and cut off toxic friends to shape an environment that supports growth.
Your environment shapes you.
one person who lived it
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Decide that your goals are entirely up to you and focus solely on yourself.
one person who lived it
View a shrinking social circle as a positive sign that you are on an upward trajectory.
It indicates you are outgrowing insecure peers.
one person who lived it
Leave your gym bag packed at home so you can simply grab it and go, though be aware this may lead to taking breaks on the couch instead.
- One person reports mostly ending up on the couch 'to take a small break' and not going.
one person who lived it
Surround yourself with optimistic content like podcasts, music, and books to make optimism your environment.
Good input leads to good output.
one person who lived it
Stand for something specific so you do not fall for anything else.
one person who lived it
Alter your social circle, as you cannot modify how others behave.
3 people, independently
Create physical and digital barriers to prevent engaging in a bad habit, such as using website-blocking extensions or keeping your door open for visibility.
Adding friction is the primary way to block access to vices in the digital world.
2 people, independently
Move to another country for a period to learn something new and gain new perspectives.
Changing countries gives totally new perspectives and surprising learning.
2 people, independently
Stop giving advice to complacent friends and just pursue your goals; they may eventually ask to join in.
one person who lived it
Expect that self-improvement may make others uncomfortable or lead them to sabotage your progress; do not take it personally.
Others may feel bad about themselves around overachievers, or their previous methods of manipulation may no longer work.
one person who lived it
Plan productive activities for times when you are alone to improve focus.
One person reports having better focus when alone.
one person who lived it
Avoid becoming a complete hermit because social skills are important.
social skills are important
one person who lived it
Move out of environments where you feel like an outsider for pursuing behaviors that contribute positively to your life.
one person who lived it