[The following is an output from GPT-4.5 when asked to give a 600 word blog post from a 2 minute ramble I had while making my lunch for the day]
Have you ever noticed how placing something important where you'll easily see it can make it more likely you'll actually do it? Imagine putting your gym shoes next to your bed if you want to start running each morning. Or leaving a bill right next to your keys so you don’t forget to pay it. This simple action—placing reminders or tasks in convenient locations—is a lot like how potential energy works in physics.
Potential energy is energy that's stored up, waiting to be released. Think of a ball at the top of a hill. While it sits there, the ball has stored-up energy simply because of its position. As soon as it starts rolling downhill, that potential energy transforms into kinetic energy, or energy in motion. The higher or more convenient the starting point, the more energy it has when it moves.
In our daily lives, tasks and reminders work in a similar way. When we place important reminders or objects in convenient spots, we essentially boost their "potential energy." For example, imagine you have to return a library book. If you leave it by your front door, you'll likely remember to grab it on your way out. Here, placing the book by the door increases its "potential energy." When you pick it up and actually return it, that stored-up energy becomes action—much like potential energy becoming kinetic.
On the other hand, if you leave the same library book buried beneath a pile of papers in your office, its potential energy is low. It's harder to remember, and less convenient, so you're less likely to act on it. As a result, its "kinetic energy"—your likelihood of actually returning it—is much lower.
Digital reminders work the same way. If you need to pay a bill or call a friend, you might set a reminder on your phone for a specific time when you know you'll be free. This reminder waiting quietly in your phone is storing up "potential energy." When the reminder pops up at the right moment, it easily converts to action, becoming your personal kinetic energy as you take care of the task.
Another good example is meal prepping. Let's say you want to eat healthier during the week. By preparing meals ahead of time and storing them in clear containers at eye level in your fridge, you boost the potential energy of healthy eating. You're far more likely to grab those nutritious meals instead of less healthy, less convenient options. The stored energy (the prepared meal waiting to be eaten) is easily turned into action (eating healthy).
The concept applies to nearly everything we do. Want to remember to read before bed? Leave a book on your pillow. Need to remember to take medication? Put the pills next to your toothbrush. Each of these small actions increases the potential energy of the task by making it conveniently visible and accessible.
This analogy helps us understand that convenience itself acts as a form of potential energy. The more convenient and visible you make important tasks, the higher their stored "potential energy," and the more likely you'll be to actually do them. By thoughtfully arranging our spaces and reminders, we can effortlessly transform potential energy (reminders or tasks waiting quietly) into kinetic energy (actions taken).
So next time you have something important to do, think of it like placing a ball at the top of a hill. Choose a convenient, visible spot, and watch how easily potential energy becomes positive action.