On The Concept Of Friction
I’ve talked about the idea of friction in a few articles here already and I thought I should explain exactly what I mean in a bit more detail. The scientific definition of friction is as follows:
Friction is the force resisting the relative lateral (tangential) motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, or material elements in contact.
While this literal definition of friction is along the same lines, my definition goes something like this:
Friction is the object, thought, or excuse that stands between you and what you would like to accomplish or need to get done. This friction greatly reduces the likelihood of actually doing something.
It is important to first identify the sources of friction that interfere with your ability to accomplish tasks or activities. Once identified you can work at eliminating these sources of friction, or at least reduce them, so you can get more done, become more efficient and get closer to your end goal.
This is perhaps best illustrated with a few examples.
Friction in everyday things.
1. Clutter.
- Sources of friction: No place to put all that stuff.
- Results: Stuff accumulates and you can become unhappy, stressed or anxious with the messy state of your home or office. You can become unproductive and it can cost you in ways you may never have thought of.
- Solutions: First thing you can do is get rid of some of your stuff. If it’s truly everywhere then you likely have too much of it. Try purging just 7 things this weekend to get you on your way. Secondly, look around and see what type of clutter you commonly have — is it newspapers and magazines, children’s toys, or books? Let’s use books in this example. If you always seem to have books laying around consider a better storage option for them like shelves or baskets. The key point here is for whichever storage option you decide on it needs to be located in the area that you access books the most thereby removing the friction of returning the items to their appropriate home. It’s pointless having a bookshelf upstairs if you always read downstairs — guess where the book clutter will be…downstairs.
2. Mailing a letter.
- Sources of friction: No envelopes and no stamps. The source of friction really comes from having to go out and buy them.
- Results: The letter doesn’t get mailed anytime soon since you need to go to the post office to buy stamps and envelopes.
- Solutions: Buy envelopes and stamps when you don’t need them. Buying these items when you don’t need them makes it feel less like a chore and you won’t be tempted to put it off because you have to do it. Once you’ve made your purchases put stamps on a few envelopes and store them in a drawer or desk so they are easily accessible. Next time you need to mail a letter a big part of the task is already done. Another thought, if it’s bill payments you are usually paying consider stashing a cheque book and pen with the stamped envelopes to reduce the friction even further.
3. Exercise.
- Sources of friction: Exercise equipment is in an area that you don’t naturally frequent, running shoes are tucked away in the back of the closet, work out clothes are at the bottom of your drawer and your iPod is floating around in your bag.
- Results: You rarely exercise because you have a ton of excuses! “I can’t find my shoes”, “It’ll take me forever to get set up”, or you just forget about it because “out of sight out of mind”. If the treadmill is tucked away in a room that you rarely go into or is up a flight of stairs that is sometimes just enough friction to prevent you from working out. It’s not that walking up a flight of stairs is tough it’s just a pain in the butt in your mind.
- Solutions: Lay out your clothes and dig your shoes out of the closet. Leave the iPod by the treadmill or whatever equipment you use. Move the treadmill to a more prominent spot in your home somewhere you enjoy spending time. Yes it may be a bit of an eye sore but what’s important here, image or actually using it and feeling healthier and more energetic?
4. To do lists.
- Sources of friction: Vague tasks with no actionable items.
- Results: You spend a lot more time looking at the list and wondering “well now what do I do?” than actually doing the items on it.
- Solutions: Break down each task into very small steps, the next physical things to do. It makes anything really simple and takes the guess work out of it as you always have something to do next. For a more detailed look at this concept check out How To Choose Goals And Ensure Success. Next actionable items for the task of doing laundry might look something like this:
Gather dirty clothes and put them in laundry basket
Take laundry baskets to the washing machine
Sort laundry
Start with the first load
When it’s done immediately put it in the dryer and start the second load
Fold clothes
Take folded clothes to respective rooms and put them away
Reduce friction as much as you can in everything you do. In doing so you will be more efficient, you’ll make more progress and will have to deal with less and less frustration, unhappiness or guilt. Setting up a system that makes sense for you and that helps you accomplish even the most menial tasks smoothly and quickly is really helpful and satisfying!
See also:
Eliminate Clutter Part 1: The Cost of Clutter and Where Does it Come From?
Purge Just 7 Things – A Weekend Challenge
Got Books? Tips To Decluttering and Organizing Your Personal Library
Getting Things Done – Keeping It Short And Sweet
Photo courtesy of: danorbit.
19 Responses to “On The Concept Of Friction”
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My big one is the mailing thing – and the source of friction with that is finding a mailbox. And then remembering to put the letter in the mailbox when I pass it. I’m so not a snail-mail type…
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Help Me Cure Someday Syndrome: the Someday-Busting Affiliate Program
Excellent post, Sherri! Too many people don’t realize that they even have so many sources of friction in their life, much less realize that they can do something about it. This is very empowering!
Jay Schryer’s last blog post..Mama I’m Coming Home
How interesting! I’ve never thought about friction like this before and it’s wonderful. I really enjoyed your ideas and suggestions here. I’m off to check out some of the “See Also” posts!
Positively Present’s last blog post..stop judging: 4 reasons, 5 things, 6 ways
Oh man, do I have some friction in my life. I’ve recently set out to destroy the clutter bug. We’ve accomplished this by selling 90% of everything we own. It’s very liberating.
Not so easy is the exercise bug. I am just way too good at finding legitimate excuses. In other words, I dwell way too much on the actual friction rather than finding ways to bore through it.
Great post!
Baker @ ManVsDebt’s last blog post..May’s Budget Recap, Net Worth Update, & Future Battle Plans
I like your definition of friction!
I do the most of the things you describe with little friction. I find that prefacing the activity with some ritual sometimes helps. For instance, when I get ready to go running I do some stretching, mindfully tie my shoes, etc.
I do have a problem with To Do lists. My favorite thing is to create a To Do list and then ignore it. I need to get better at breaking down the tasks.
Roger – A Content Life’s last blog post..12 Happiness Activities – Part 2
I deal with ALL those sources of friction on a daily basis… do you think there’s any chance it’s making me into a pearl? Gotta have the irritant to make the pearl, right?
I think to eliminate the clutter in my house I’d have to get rid of my husband… and son… hmmm… decisions, decisions.
Lisis | Quest For Balance’s last blog post..Fellowship Fridays: Wonderful Women
Hi Sherri,
I liked how you associated the dislike of doing something with the concept of friction. Very creative and interesting and I loved it!
Nadia-Happy Lotus’s last blog post..The Matrix of Life
@ Alex – Sometimes the sources of friction are not easily changed it’s not like you can install a new post box in a place that’s a little more convenient
@ Jay – It IS a fantastic feeling when you come to the realization that you really can choose to make things easier for yourself. Actively doing something is a lot more empowering than just going along complaining about how everything sucks
@ Positively Present – I’m glad you liked it. I hope you liked the other posts as well
@ Baker – Welcome Adam great to see you here! 90% of your stuff?? That’s amazing! I’m sure you feel a lot better that’s just wonderful. The exercise one I’m afraid I can’t help you I’m just as bad.
I know it’s said everywhere but I do believe that if you find an activity that you truly enjoy you can actually look forward to exercise. I really like yoga and pilates and look forward to those sessions. Thanks for your comment.
@ Roger – Routine is great! Doing the same little rituals every time you do something can really help to psych you up. With respect to the todo list have I mentioned next actionable items?
@ Lisis – Well I don’t know what irritants do to pearls perhaps you’ll just get shinier?
I know what you mean about the clutter…Gwynn is great but the kids…oh dear. BUT I’ve come to learn if you want a pristine, clean, tidy and ordered home you shouldn’t get married, have kids or pets…not a trade off I’m willing to make. 
@ Nadia – I’m glad you liked it!
You’re so right, Sherri! I’ll take the mess any day, so long as I can keep these two crazy guys!
Lisis | Quest For Balance’s last blog post..Inspiration From the Dalai Lama
Hi Sherri,
Great organisation of points of friction and how to overcome them for specific tasks. I totally identify with the mailing letters one, and now have a drawer full of envelopes and stamps so there is zero friction in that area.
Lovely new theme, by the way. Very professional and clean-looking. Your blog is going places!
Daphne @ Joyful Days’s last blog post..Energize Your Home and Life with Feng Shui
@ Daphne – Thanks so much for the kind words Daphne! I’m glad you like our new look.
It’s amazing how doing something so small like putting stamps on envelopes can make such a huge impact. It’s all those tiny little inconveniences that add up and result in nothing getting done…or at least put off for quite a while. I’m glad you’re all sorted
Great article, Sherri! It makes so much sense. I am going to be watching for ways to cut the friction! (I charged my batteries last night, so they are ready!)
That’s awesome Mary I’m glad you liked it. Charging your batteries the night before is a great example of removing the friction!