diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f10862a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/.env
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 196c656..e84410f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,29 +20,9 @@ To install:
     conda activate straw2analysis
     ```
 
-2. Follow [the instructions](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/tasks/manage-environments.html#saving-environment-variables) to set DB_PASSWORD as the environment variable.
-
-    In short, use:
-
-    ```shell
-    cd $CONDA_PREFIX
-    mkdir -p ./etc/conda/activate.d
-    mkdir -p ./etc/conda/deactivate.d
-    touch ./etc/conda/activate.d/env_vars.sh
-    touch ./etc/conda/deactivate.d/env_vars.sh
-    ```
-    and then edit `./etc/conda/activate.d/env_vars.sh` as follows:
+2. Provide an .env file to be used by `python-dotenv` which should be placed in the top folder of the application 
+   and should have the form:
    
-    ```bash
-   #!/bin/sh
-   
-   export DB_PASSWORD='database-password' 
    ```
-   
-    and `./etc/conda/deactivate.d/env_vars.sh` as follows:
-
-    ```bash
-   #!/bin/sh
-   
-   unset DB_PASSWORD 
+   DB_PASSWORD=database-password
    ```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/config/environment.yml b/config/environment.yml
index 3f3370b..5f6df2a 100644
--- a/config/environment.yml
+++ b/config/environment.yml
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ dependencies:
   - mypy
   - pre-commit
   - psycopg2
-  - python-dotenv
+  - python-dotenv
\ No newline at end of file