Friction sometimes prevents us from making progress. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, it was all I could do to get myself started on finishing our tax return. I looked for distractions, but seeing all the paperwork on the counter helped me muster the will to start. Once I got going, momentum kept me going and I got it done.

On the other hand, friction can keep us from making unhealthy choices. I was craving some ice cream, but I couldn’t be bothered to drive 10-minutes to the store. I skipped it and was better off. This is one of the reasons to keep unhealthy temptations out of the house. If they’re readily available, you’re more likely to indulge.

What can you do to reduce friction on favorable behavior and increase friction on unfavorable behavior?