When things are easy, they get done.

When things are easy, they get done. This premise is one on which I have based much of my work. As humans, we naturally gravitate towards tasks that require minimal effort. If you want something to get done, and done consistently, it’s got to be easy. If you can also make it fun, you have a winner. Given the choice, would you take the stairs or take the escalator? Most of us would take the escalator; it is easier. But what if somehow we made the stairs more fun? More on that in a moment.

The Psychology Behind Easy Tasks

Our brains are wired to conserve energy. This evolutionary trait has served us well. But in modern times, it can sometimes work against us. When faced with a choice between an easy task and a more challenging one, our instinct is to opt for the path of least resistance.

This is why we often procrastinate on complex projects or avoid difficult conversations. However, by understanding this tendency, we can leverage it to our advantage. By simplifying tasks and processes, we increase the chances we’ll do the thing. This principle applies to personal habits, workplace efficiency, and even large-scale societal changes.

Making the Difficult Desirable

While making tasks easier is a powerful strategy, adding an element of fun can transform the experience entirely. Let’s revisit the stairs versus escalator example.

In 2009, Volkswagen launched a campaign called “The Fun Theory,” which included an experiment at a Stockholm subway station. They converted a set of stairs into a giant piano keyboard. Each step produced a musical note when stepped on.

The result? A 66% increase in people choosing the stairs over the escalator. This simple yet ingenious idea demonstrates how injecting an element of enjoyment can override our default preference for the easiest option.

Applying the Principle in Daily Life

How can we apply this principle to our daily lives and work environments? Here are a few strategies:

1. Break down complex tasks: What are the individual steps, the things you could do in a single sitting?
   > What phone call could you make?
   > What email could you write?
   > What outline could you compose?
   
   Identify the first step and get started. Doing the first thing often sets up a change reaction. You wind up doing the next thing…and the next. The one thing on which you had procrastinated for weeks is now done!
2. Create systems: Establish routines and systems that automate or simplify repetitive tasks. You reduce decision fatigue and make consistency easier. We have tons of repeating tasks in our lives. Identify them and put them on your task list. Give each one a day and define when it will repeat. When it’s time to do the task, do you have information you’ll want to have at hand? Put a link to that information right there in the task. Now, you’re only one click away.
3. Do the thinking on the front end: If you think your life is busy now, don’t kid yourself that it’s all going to be easier a month from now or a year from now. Don’t burden yourself with half-baked thoughts. Flesh out the details now. Identify exactly where the variables still remain. Put in in your system. Your future self will thank you.
4. Improve your environment: Organize your space to make desired actions easier. For example, place healthy snacks at eye level in your fridge to encourage better eating habits. Clear your desk of everything except the one thing you’re working on now.
5. Use technology wisely: Leverage apps and tools that simplify tasks…from meal planning to project management.

The Ripple Effect of Simplicity

When we make things easier and more enjoyable, we not only increase the likelihood of task completion but also create positive associations with those activities. Making things easy leads to a virtuous cycle where we actively seek out these tasks, rather than avoiding them. Moreover, this principle can have far-reaching effects beyond individual productivity. In business, companies that simplify their products or services often see increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. In public policy, making desired behaviors easier (like recycling or using public transportation) can lead to significant societal changes.

Conclusion: Embracing the Easy and Fun

In a world that often glorifies “hustle” and “grinding,” it’s refreshing to remember that the most effective strategy is to make things easier and more enjoyable. Let’s focus on simplicity and fun and transform our habits, improve our productivity, and even contribute to positive changes in our communities.

The next time you find yourself procrastinating on a task or struggling to adopt a new habit, ask yourself: “How can I make this easier?” “How can I make this more fun?” The answers to these questions might just be the key to unlocking your potential and achieving your goals.

Is there something in your life that you put off but by making it easy, you did it, and it actually turned out to be fun? I would love to read your comments.

Life is too short and time too precious to waste one more day. If you are someone who stumbled upon this site for the first time, let me help you take a major step forward right now. When you join my email list, I’ll give you two free gifts. The first will get your desk clean. The second will put everything you have to do in one place. Plus, each week you’ll hear from me with nuts & bolts tools and strategies to make life easier and more productive. You’re one click away from making it happen.