Overcome limbic friction

Overcome limbic friction

When you’re trying to improve your habits, you face something called limbic friction.

Limbic friction is the effort required to do something when it’s hard for you. For example, you want to wake up and get morning sunlight but… you prefer sitting in the coziness of your bed instead.

Here’s what you don’t know. If your brain can beat limbic friction once, it sees everything else as easy.

For example, let’s say you get the morning sunlight or a cold shower even when it’s a bit boring or tiring. Afterward, you’ll be more able to do other friction-ful activities like meal prepping or meditation.

Does that make sense?

When you do hard things, other things become easy

The full neuroscience of this is discussed here and here.

Here’s how this applies to you:

• if you’re a student procrastinating, do a hard thing like exercise or tidying your room. It will change your limbic friction balance so you’ll be more confident with studying.

• if you work during the day and you go back tired at night but wish you spent your time wiser. Put in the 5% effort to sign up for the new hobby.

• If you’re building better health habits by sleeping earlier, getting morning sunlight, and cold exposure, start with one thing. The other things will become easier.

Keep in mind that what feels like friction to you is different from what makes other people feel it.

• So, Reader, what needs a lot of friction for you?

Examples: Getting out of bed quickly, getting sunlight, approaching people, spending money, being alone.

For me, I find it really hard to stay organized. But because it needs friction, after I do it, everything else is just a piece of cake.

And now for you.

Do the thing that makes you feel friction. Don’t delay it.

Good luck!