YOUR ENVIRONMENT CAN SUPPORT YOUR PROGRESS — OR CONSTANTLY FIGHT AGAINST IT.
Sometimes the immediate problem is housing, food, utilities, transportation or another basic need.
Other times, your needs are covered but the places where you spend your time repeatedly expose you to distractions, pressure, unhealthy behavior or unnecessary risk.
S.L.I.P. helps you address both.
Think about where you spend most of your time.
HOME
WORK
NEIGHBORHOOD
FRIENDS' HOMES
SOCIAL SETTINGS
ONLINE ENVIRONMENTS
ENTERTAINMENT
Then ask:
Where am I most productive?
Where am I most likely to procrastinate?
Where am I most likely to overspend?
Where am I most likely to drink, use drugs, gamble or make decisions I later regret?
Where am I exposed to people doing things that could threaten my safety or freedom?
Where do I learn, build relationships, exercise, work, create or make progress?
Which environments need LESS of my time?
Which environments need MORE of my time?
INTENTIONALLY PUT YOURSELF IN BETTER ONES.
Depending on your goals, that might be:
A library
Gym or recreation center
Workforce center
Training program
School or college
Business-development center
Professional networking event
Community organization
Mentoring program
Support group
Faith or community setting
A quiet place where you can actually work
The question isn't whether these places automatically make you successful.
The question is whether they increase your chances of doing something conducive to the lifestyle you're trying to build.
Ask yourself:
What does my feed constantly put in front of me?
Which apps consume time I intended to use elsewhere?
Which apps make spending, gambling or other impulsive behavior easier?
Who am I allowing to influence me online?
What educational, financial, career, business or wellness content could I intentionally put in front of myself instead?
Your environment isn't limited to where your body is.
It's also what repeatedly gets access to your attention.
I'm struggling to meet basic necessities.
Start with Basic Needs.
Housing is unstable or creating financial pressure.
Start with Housing Help.
Food access is the immediate issue.
Start with Food Assistance.
I'm behind on utilities or struggling to keep services connected.
Start with Utility Help.
Transportation is preventing me from working, attending appointments or handling responsibilities.
Start with Transportation Help.
My necessities are handled, but my surroundings keep pulling me backward.
Start with Check Your Environment.
My phone/social media is consuming too much attention or exposing me to behaviors I'm trying to change.
Start with Your Phone Is an Environment Too.
PROTECT — Where am I unnecessarily exposed to instability, distraction or risk?
POSITION — What place or environment would make productive behavior easier?
PROGRESS — Where will I actually go—or what will I change—within the next 24 hours?
MAINTAIN — Which environment is already helping me and deserves more of my time?
Choose ONE next move before leaving this page.
PROTECT • POSITION • PROGRESS • MAINTAIN