diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 25d07db..b0e76e9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ tsconfig.tsbuildinfo
 private/
 .replit
 replit.nix
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index abf6053..99bbada 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := help
 
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+include .env
+
 help:
 	@echo "Available targets:"
 	@echo "  publish       Restart Docker Compose (or run 'npx quartz build --serve' with local=True)."
 	@echo "  preview       Run 'npx quartz build --serve' with specific directories."
 
-# Default directories for the publish target
-SOURCE_DIR = $(HOME)/Documents/obsidian/gal/Gal
-DEST_DIR = $(HOME)/Workspace/heygal.space/content
-
 # Target-specific variables for the publish target
 publish:
 	@./scripts/publish.sh "$(SOURCE_DIR)" "$(DEST_DIR)"