Quick question: What does your environment reflect about you?
Clean, aesthetically pleasing living room with a yoga mat always laid out on the floor, or a messy work desk full of receipts, post-it notes and stationery?
I had a realisation this week when my partner moved in with a TV, Xbox and PS5.
We have different habits, downtime routines and consumption patterns.
And our environment is casting votes on our behalf. Every subscription. Every object. Every app.
That yoga mat helps you with your mobility goals. The messy desk might makes you less creative.
Are those votes aligned with what you actually want?
Today in 5 minutes or less, you’ll learn:
✔️ How to deepen relationships with one specific text
✔️ The elimination test that reveals your real priorities
✔️ Why your environment decides more than you think (and how to design it deliberately)
Doable ideas 💭
Text someone a specific memory you have with them.
Not on their birthday. Not a special occasion. Maybe on a random Tuesday.
“Remember when we…” with a detail only you two would know.
Reminds them they matter. Strengthens the bond.
Takes 2 minutes. Lasts much longer.
Reflections 🪞
If you had to eliminate everything except 5 physical objects, 5 apps, and 5 subscriptions, what would you keep? What does this reveal about your true priorities?
Mindfulness 🧘🏻♀️
My partner moved in with me last week.
It dawned in me how different our lifestyles have been, and I reflected particularly on my consumption habits.
He came in with a TV, an Xbox, a PS5, HBO subscription, gym pass.
Meanwhile, I have Spotify premium, Waking Up subscription, a 20-time swim pass, and a huge pull up bar with gymnastic rings.
We had built environments around completely different lifestyles.
His downtime: movies, games, training.
Mine: various exercises, music, mobility, meditation.
Neither right or wrong. Just different.
But it made me realise how picky intentional what I let into my life.
I’m a preacher of actively designing our own environments to make achieving goals easier.
Take my pull-up bar as an example.
It’s huge. It takes up space. My living room doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing with it.
But it is a visual reminder of my goal to be a walking gym (forever).
Every time I walk past, I’m reminded: this is what you value. This is how you spend your time.
I use it almost daily. Because it’s there. Because I designed my environment to make the behaviour I want effortless.
Every subscription you have is a vote for how you spend your time.
Every object in your space is a vote for what you prioritise.
Every app on your phone is a vote for what gets your attention.
You might think you’re in control. But your environment is quietly deciding for you.
So look around your space. Open your subscriptions list. Check your phone’s home screen. What are you voting for?
Ideas Worth Pondering 🧠
There is no need to fear any problem you are working on. If you are working on it, then you are influencing the outcome. It’s the problems you don’t address that should concern you.
– James Clear
Did you love this article?
If so, please let me know by either:
- #1: Forwarding this to a friend whom you think would benefit from actionable well-being tips
- #2: Hitting reply. Send me a sentence or two about what you enjoyed. I meant it when I say I’d love to hear from you. Typing into the void isn’t nearly as fun as interacting with real humans 🙂