“Make it so easy, you can’t say no.” — Leo Babauta
That quote hit me hard the first time I read it.
Like most of us, I’ve had my fair share of ambitious starts that fizzled out. A new exercise routine, a journaling habit, a goal to meditate daily—so many of them began with good intentions and then quietly disappeared into the background. The problem? I made them too big, too fast, too complicated.
Leo Babauta’s insight reminded me of something powerful: If you want to build habits that last, start by making them ridiculously easy.
The Power of Starting Small
Let me give you an example from my own life.
A few years ago, I wanted to start meditating again. I’d done it before but had fallen out of the habit. My mistake? I always tried to jump back in with 20-minute sessions, expecting immediate results. It felt like a chore. I kept putting it off.
So I decided to take Leo’s advice: make it so easy I couldn’t say no.
I set a goal to meditate for just one minute a day.
That’s it—one minute. I’d sit, breathe, and do nothing else.
It felt almost laughable—so easy that skipping it would’ve been more complicated than doing it. And that’s the point. I didn’t fail. One minute became two, then five. Eventually, I developed it into a meaningful practice that naturally fits into my life.
Why Simplicity Works
Here’s the psychology behind it: when a habit feels effortless, your brain doesn’t put up resistance. There’s no decision fatigue, no negotiation. You just do it. And over time, repetition leads to automaticity.
You’re not relying on motivation—you’re leaning on momentum.
5 Practical Ways to Make Habits So Easy You Can’t Say No
If you’re ready to create new habits that stick, here are five practical strategies that work:
1. Shrink the habit to a ridiculous size
Want to read more? Start with one page.
Want to get fit? Do one push-up.
Want to write daily? Open the document and type one sentence.
Yes, it feels small. That’s the point. You’re building consistency first, not perfection.
2. Tie it to something you already do
Pair your new habit with an existing one:
- While brushing your teeth, do 10 squats.
- After pouring your morning coffee, jot down a quick gratitude note.
- Before turning on the TV, stretch for 30 seconds.
This “habit stacking” approach anchors the new behavior to something stable.
3. Use visual cues
Leave your journal open on your desk. Put your workout clothes where you’ll trip over them. Lay out your vitamins next to your toothbrush.
Out of sight, out of mind. In sight? Much more likely to follow through.
4. Track it—even imperfectly.
Don’t underestimate the satisfaction of checking a box. Use a habit tracker, calendar, or sticky note system to mark your progress. Even if it’s just an “X” for the day, it reinforces that you’re showing up.
5. Celebrate the win
Even small wins deserve a moment of acknowledgment. A silent “Yes!” or a mental fist bump helps reinforce the behavior emotionally.
The Real Win: Identity
Eventually, the habit isn’t about the task—it’s about who you’re becoming.
You’re not just someone who meditates for one minute. You’re someone who shows up. Who follows through? Who creates intentional routines?
And that identity shift? That’s where lasting change lives.
Final Thoughts
When a habit feels overwhelming, the solution isn’t to try harder—it’s to start smaller. Leo Babauta’s wisdom is a quiet revolution in a culture obsessed with big moves and fast results.
So if there’s something you’ve been putting off—something you want to do but haven’t managed to begin—ask yourself:
What’s the absolute easiest version of this?
Then do just that.
Because once it’s easy to say yes, everything else becomes possible.
