Day 18 of 90 · Environment
Make the healthy choice the easy one
“Fruit bowl on the counter, crisps in the cupboard. Now the apple is just closer.” — Kai
Today's action · 10 min
Look at your kitchen or desk and move one healthy option to the front and easiest to grab, and one less healthy option out of sight.
Why it works
Hollands and colleagues reviewed "choice architecture", small changes to our surroundings such as where options are placed, as a way of changing everyday health behaviour. Changing the setting asks less of willpower than deciding again every time.
Source: Altering micro-environments to change population health behaviour: towards an evidence base for choice architecture interventions (Hollands et al., 2013)
Educational content, not medical advice. If you are struggling, contact a qualified professional (Lifeline 13 11 14 in Australia, 988 in the US).