When it comes to changing habits and improving your life, many people focus on discipline, willpower, or motivation. While these are useful in their own right, they aren’t reliable over the long term. You’re gonna need some better fuel. Motivation comes and goes, and energy fluctuates during the day. The key to success isn’t just about forcing yourself to work harder or longer; it’s about creating the right environment that supports and nurtures your goals.

Imagine you’re a writer (not hard for me!) using an old computer that’s constantly crashing or trying to work in a noisy room with constant interruptions will make it tough to focus. Worse, if those around you dismiss your writing as a silly pursuit, you’ll struggle even more. Now, picture the alternative: a reliable computer, a quiet space and a supportive network. Which setup is more likely to help you succeed? The answer is obvious. Success is about building an environment that works for you, one that provides the tools, atmosphere and support you need to stay on track. This doesn’t mean it has to be a perfect, monastery-like atmosphere where all you can hear is the monks chanting in the distant background. But a well-thought-out environment will always make it easier to focus.

Any good environment will have three key components: the tools you use, the people around you and the physical space. The tools are also perhaps the most important, whether that’s a high-quality computer, the right circular saw, or just a comfortable chair. And the social environment is critical. Supportive friends, colleagues, or mentors can make all the difference when working towards something important.

Many people focus so much on getting the work done that they overlook how much their environment affects their success. A poorly arranged or chaotic space can be like trying to walk into the wind. On the other hand, a good environment feels like the wind is at your back, propelling you forward and giving you that extra push when motivation wanes. As they say, the external reflects the internal. If your physical space includes calming pictures hanging on the wall, motivational quotes and meaningful objects, your productivity will reflect that aura. Even having a simple, uncluttered space can make a huge difference.

The goal is to make your environment work for you, both physically and mentally. The small details matter. In my own workspace, I keep sports posters, family photos, and a sign that reminds me, “It’s a good day to have a good day.” I know it’s a cheesy line, but these little touches help create a positive mindset. I’m sure you can dig out a handful of sentences from the universe of literature that make you feel like a superhero.

This isn’t just about having the right desk or the best equipment. It’s about managing distractions and setting up an emotional environment that helps you stay on track. Life is full of disruptions — texts, breaking news, random interruptions — but you can still control how you respond to those distractions. Take an airport delay, for instance. You could complain about it, or you could use those moments to catch up on work or dive into a good book. It’s all about shifting your focus onto what you can control, not the things you can’t. For example, I write better while music plays in the background. But I know plenty of creatives who need total silence before they can squeeze one word out. Some people thrive in the social atmosphere of a gym, while others prefer to run trails alone. The key is to figure out what works best for you.

James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, highlighted two crucial factors for building positive habits: time and place. Creating dedicated spaces for specific activities sends clear signals to your brain about what to do and when. If every time you sit in your best reading chair, you whip out your cell phone, pretty soon, your brain won’t register that chair as a place for quiet reading anymore. Same thing for sitting in bed tapping away on a laptop. The bed is for sleeping! You are retraining your brain to associate the bed with working. And you wonder why it takes so long to fall asleep at night. Similarly, try not to use the same table for eating or paying bills, and Zoom calls can confuse your brain and make it harder to focus. I learned this the hard way. While I used to wish I could take my laptop anywhere, I now have a dedicated office where I do my work, free from distractions.

Of course, we live in an age where we are connected to everything. With just a smartphone, you can run a business, manage your family’s schedule and access the entire world’s library of books and music. But this constant connectivity can be overwhelming. Too many options can lead to distraction. And the worst enemy of the creative person is distraction.

Distractions are different from mind-wandering. Letting your brain dance over subjects or objects, thinking, feeling and soaking in the hidden meaning, is also part of the process of creativity. It’s during these idle moments — whether on a walk or a drive — that creative solutions and ideas often come to us. As the ancient Greeks knew, you can’t force the muses to speak to you. They will talk on their own time. Your job is to be listening when they whisper. If you fill every gap in your day with social media or mindless distractions, you’re cutting off the whispers of the muses. I often find my best writing or business ideas come to me during downtime, and that’s no coincidence. These moments allow the brain to process information in the background.

You can’t control everything in your environment, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to create a perfect, distraction-free zone. The goal is to minimize the things that might distract you. Life is full of stressful situations, but the right environment can help you manage that stress more effectively. When one area of life is tough, another can offer relief. These activities release endorphins, making you feel better and more capable of handling life’s challenges.

In the end, creating the right environment is meant to set up a space that helps you move forward, even when things get tough. Whether it’s organizing your workspace, managing your mental focus, or surrounding yourself with the right people, your environment plays a crucial role in your success.