Most of us have experienced the same frustrating cycle. We decide it is time to make a change. We are going to exercise regularly, eat healthier, spend less time on our phones, get more sleep, meditate, read more books, or finally start that daily walk we have been talking about for months.

For a few days, everything goes according to plan. You are eating salads and fresh fruit. You have eliminated those work lunches at McDonald’s and Burger King. Then one evening, you open the freezer, and staring back at you is a large tub of cookie dough ice cream. An hour later, you are quietly burying the empty container at the bottom of the trash can, hoping your spouse never discovers the evidence.

We have all been there. We start with the best of intentions, and then life happens. We have a stressful day, a difficult week, or a disappointing setback, and our old habits are there waiting to welcome us back. It starts with a few minor slips. Before long, though, we find ourselves right back where we started, wondering why lasting change seems so difficult.

When this happens, many people assume the problem is a lack of willpower. If only they were more disciplined, more motivated, or more committed, they would finally stick with the habit. Behavioral science suggests otherwise.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to change their behavior is focusing entirely on themselves while ignoring their environment. We tend to think that habits are driven only by determination and self-control. In reality, our surroundings often play a much larger role than we think.

Consider how many of our daily actions occur almost automatically. We brush our teeth, check our phones, grab a snack, turn on the television, or reach for a cup of coffee without much conscious thought. These behaviors are often triggered by cues in our environment. Over time, our brain learns to associate certain places, objects, and situations with particular actions. So, if we want to change our habits, one of the most effective strategies is to change the environment in which those habits occur.

Imagine someone who wants to stop scrolling through endless videos before bed. Every night, they place their phone on the nightstand next to their bed. They tell themselves they will use more restraint. Yet when bedtime arrives, the phone is within arm’s reach, and the temptation is too great.

Now imagine that same person places the phone in another room before going to sleep and uses a traditional alarm clock instead. Suddenly, the unwanted behavior becomes less convenient. The environment has changed, and the odds of success increase.

The same principle applies to many well-being practices. If you want to exercise in the morning, lay out your workout clothes the night before. If you want to eat healthier, stock your refrigerator with healthy options and avoid bringing tempting junk food into the house. If you want to read more, leave a book on your nightstand and place the television remote in a drawer.

These may seem like small changes, but tweaks like these often produce surprisingly large results because they reduce friction. Good habits become easier to start. Unhealthy habits become slightly more difficult to continue.

This approach is important because willpower is a limited resource. Some days we have plenty of it. Other days we have very little. Stress, fatigue, and competing demands can quickly drain our capacity for self-control. When that happens, we naturally gravitate toward whatever behavior is easiest.

One of the most encouraging aspects of this idea is that meaningful change does not require a complete life overhaul. You do not need to reinvent yourself overnight. Instead, you can start by making one small adjustment to your surroundings. Keep a water bottle on your desk. Put a bowl of fruit out on the counter. Change the settings on your social media apps to reduce notifications.

These simple acts may seem insignificant, but they quietly stack the deck in your favor. And when it comes to building habits that support health and well-being, increasing your odds of success is often far more effective than relying on willpower alone.