One of the biggest lessons from Chapter 12 of Atomic Habits is the Law of Least Effort. James Clear explains that when two options accomplish the same thing, we naturally tend to choose the one that requires less effort.

It’s not necessarily about being lazy. Our brains are constantly looking for ways to conserve energy, which means the environment around us can have a major impact on the habits we build.

Think about your workday. If you have to search through multiple folders to find the information you need, you’re more likely to put it off. If following up with a candidate requires digging through emails, you’re less likely to do it consistently. But when the tools, information, and next steps are easy to access, taking action becomes much easier.

This is why creating the right environment matters.

If you want to make more candidate calls, keep your call list ready to go. If you want to follow up consistently, create reminders or a routine that makes follow-ups part of your normal workflow. If you want to prepare for the next day, spend a few minutes organizing your priorities before you leave.

You don’t always need more motivation. Sometimes, you simply need to remove the obstacles standing between you and the habit you want to build.

This applies outside of work, too. Want to drink more water? Keep a water bottle nearby. Want to read more? Keep your book somewhere you can easily see it. Want to spend less time scrolling? Move the apps that distract you out of sight.

The easier you make a habit, the less energy it takes to get started.

And that matters because success is rarely built from one huge decision. More often, it’s built from small choices that become easier to repeat over time.

So instead of asking yourself, “How can I work harder?” try asking:

“How can I make the right thing easier?”

Sometimes, the best way to build better habits isn’t to add more effort. It’s to remove the unnecessary effort standing in your way.