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Patty Morrissey's avatar

You're speaking my language!

Both James Clear and BJ Fogg talk about the power of environmental design in shaping our behavior - the stuff in our environment serves as a prompt for how we interact with that environment. When I'm feeling stuck or wanting to initiate positive change in my life, I look to the environment first - how can I set this space up to support the person I'm becoming and the life I want to lead? I recently rearranged my living room to encourage more relaxation and connection and less TV watching - part of that was canceling my Netflix account - I'm reading and napping more!

Your example of your friend also resonated. My bedroom is a blush pink - vintage furniture, walls, ceiling, bedding. I listened to Alain de Botton's A Course of Love book while painting the room. When dating my fiance early on he remarked that he could never live in a pink bedroom and I responded that he doesn't have to - this room is for me. I love how the arrangement of the space and the things that we keep reflect the microseason of life that we're in - this season is my Gilmore Girls season with my teen daughter. When she goes off to college and I cohabitate with a man again, it will change and the environment will signal and encourage different behaviors.

IMO behavioral environmental design is an overlooked piece of the wellness puzzle.

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