How to Develop Habits with Greater Ease Using the Path of Least Resistance
It happened again.
You got excited about creating a habit, whether it was exercise, meditation, developing a new skill, or something else altogether, did a bunch of work for a few weeks and it just….didn’t work out.
We know it’s hard to stick to new habits, but the question of why is much harder to answer. The thing is, there’s a certain “resistance” we experience when attempting to set new and especially wholesome habits. This resistance is the pain that we associate with carrying out the task now and it overshadows any feeling of pleasure we’ll get in the future.
But by utilizing a principle I refer to as the path of least resistance you can make it much easier to set new positive habits by placing the odds in your favor.
How to Develop Habits with Greater Ease Using the Path of Least Resistance
Let go of your old tired habits and plant new habits in fertile soil.– Harley King
Why is it hard to stick to new habits? There are various factors, but a large part of that comes down to one word: resistance.
When you get home from a long day at work, and you have the choice of either working out or sitting down and lounging on your couch, do you know why you sit down to relax instead of working out? Mentally, it feels much easier to just sit down and lounge around than it does to get up and work out.
You’re already at home and your favorite device or TV controller is likely on you or within feet of you. All you have to do is pick up said device and your job is done. It’s vegetable time. In contrast, if you’re like most people, to work out requires you get your workout clothes, grab water, put everything into your bag, get your keys, and drive to the gym. In that case, what are you more likely to do? Sit and lounge around. This is the path of least resistance in action and it’s our natural pattern of behavior.
We naturally lean towards the action which takes the least amount of energy. Whatever is easiest to us in any given moment will naturally have a “pulling” effect on us that is difficult to resist. However, this isn’t something you have to be held prisoner to. The path of least resistance can be placed in your favor as well if you work it right.
How to use the path of least resistance
To utilize the path of least resistance, we have to look at what causes this sense of pain and the resistance in the first place. Going back to our example, if instead of arriving at home to be confronted with the decision to lounge or workout you got your workout stuff together in the morning and threw it in the car as you left for work, it would be a much different story.
In that case, what would be easier? Drive home to lounge around or drive straight to the gym to workout? Obviously, you haven’t removed all the resistance involved in getting yourself to go work out, but you definitely have removed a lot of the pain involved when thinking about it. With your workout gear already conveniently in your car, you’re far more likely to take action on your goal.
There are many ways you can utilize the path of least resistance, but it ultimately depends on what the action involves. Here are a few general tips that will help you take full advantage of this powerful principle:
1. Bring it closer
This is all about physical proximity. Whatever it is, move it closer to you. The best example of this is in the case of exercise. Remember your workout gear? Bringing it from your home to your car, given the fact that the example was about working out after you get off of work, helps immensely.
Alternatively, if you’re working out in the morning then prep your gear the night before and either place it in your car or right beside your bed (even consider sleeping in your workout gear if that helps).
2. Reduce the time to complete the task
Is the idea of meditating for thirty minutes providing resistance? What about five minutes? Think about it. See the difference? You’ll be more likely to get yourself up to meditate in the morning if you commit to just five minutes as opposed to an hour. And a neat little secret? Once you get yourself going you’ll want to keep going for the full half-hour, so this is really just to help get you moving and passed that resistance point.
3. Simplify the action
Sometimes, it’s the complication of the action itself that keeps you from doing it. Often, when you have a ton of work to do for something all you want to do is run from it and act like it’s not there. In this case, try to find a way to simplify the process down to its essential principles and, if possible, remove what isn’t necessary.
4. Complicate and distance yourself from distractions
On the flip side, you’ll want to do all of the same things as the above, but the opposite, for any potential distractions. That means distance yourself physically from distractions, make it harder to reach them, make it more complicated to use or do them, and generally anything else that will make the process of using or doing them more difficult.
Examples include hiding your T.V. controller, deleting apps on your smartphone that tend to distract you, and blocking certain websites on your browser when you’re on your computer.
Creating new positive habits can be difficult regardless, but by fully utilizing the path of least resistance you can create an environment that places the odds in your favor, making it easier to take action on your goals and more difficult to become distracted and thrown off course.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.