Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. There is another definition of friction which is the key to making and breaking habits. That definition of friction is conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions. This scenario covers what occurs to allow us to continue or never start a habit. What is this magic mentioned in the title? The magic is in the simplicity of creating good habits and overcoming bad ones. Many believe it can’t be that simple and commit to bad habits they want to lose by doing so. Dismissing a solution before receiving information about it is the equivalent of being hungry and declining food because it is in a bag. Let’s open the bag, shall we?

We need to focus on the second definition of friction. The conflict caused by the clash of wills is the key. Humans naturally do what is easiest. Lazy is a strong word, but we have an innate sense to conserve energy. It makes logical sense to do what is in the path of least resistance. So, what is the issue? The issue is our day is full of conveniences that help us perpetuate all habits. We want to work out more, yet our couch time beats our workout time weekly. We desire to eat better, but chips and candy cover our counter. We have fruit somewhere, maybe at the bottom of the fridge, that will spoil before we remember it’s there. What do these two scenarios have in common? Let’s pay attention to the amount of friction in each. The amount of friction between working out versus sitting on the couch is alarming for most of us. What stops us from sitting down when we step into our living room? Nothing. In addition to the ease of sitting, we have our phones and remote to our televisions. They can keep us there for hours. Where is that space for working out? Is it our neighborhood gym? How easy is it to get there? Not as easy as it is to get to the living room. How about eating better? Here we don’t have to leave our homes. We still struggle with the same issue of friction. The ease of grabbing a snack from a countertop versus opening the fridge to find healthy stuff in the crisper is the battle. Minor changes are the difference between breaking bad habits and introducing beneficial ones to our lives.

The minor change is lessening the friction in completing what we want to do and adding friction to starting what we don’t. Let’s use the “couch time” versus “workout” time scenario. Sitting on the couch is too easy. To lessen couch time, we need to make it hard to stay sitting. That means if we go to sit on the couch, we don’t allow ourselves to recline or use our phones. The television doesn’t go on unless we can tell ourselves exactly what we are about to watch and limit ourselves to that. Once that time is up, we should go into making ourselves uncomfortable. After the program, we must stand. The television must go off. This will decrease couch time because it will become undesirable. How do we increase workout time? Make it easier. Buy some resistance bands and dumbbells. Keep them in the corner of your living area. Move the table out of the middle of the living room. We now have a space that was used for the habit we are trying to get rid of, transforming into a place to practice the new habit we are attempting to create. Over time, simply walking into your living area will prepare your mind for working out instead of sitting on the couch. Before you know it, that couch is only there for visitors. There is just too much friction for us to use our couch as a couch. Congratulations.

In closing, the magic of friction is a huge answer to many of your problems when it comes to habits. You struggle with your vices because you never get rid of the ease of it. Whatever it is you wish to stop, make it harder to do. Too much junk food? Stop bringing it into the house. Are you spending too much money? Set up auto deductions in your account allocated to investments. It is just as simple creating good habits. Would you like to call your family and friends more? Come up with topics to discuss before you call. Would you like to learn a new skill? Immerse yourself in the new skill. Find videos about the skill. Follow hashtags about it on social media. Write about it. Read about it. You are good at what you do because you do it. Lack of knowledge causes friction which you know is not something we allow when creating new habits.

Food for thought. You do the dishes!