diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce5d7e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+SLACK_APP_TOKEN=YOUR_SLACK_APP_TOKEN
+SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=YOUR_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN
+# SLACK_API_URL=YOUR_SLACK_API_URL
+# This template uses OpenAI, but you can use any other provider!
+OPENAI_API_KEY=YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index abc3d97..a99f209 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ env*/
 venv/
 .venv*
 .env*
+!.env.sample
 
 # codecov / coverage
 .coverage
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c28f64f..88beaad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,20 +17,25 @@ Join the [Slack Developer Program](https://api.slack.com/developer-program) for
 4. Review the configuration and click *Create*
 5. Click *Install to Workspace* and *Allow* on the screen that follows. You'll then be redirected to the App Configuration dashboard.
 
-#### Environment Variables
+### Environment Variables
+
 Before you can run the app, you'll need to store some environment variables.
 
-1. Open your app configuration page from this list, click **OAuth & Permissions** in the left hand menu, then copy the Bot User OAuth Token. You will store this in your environment as `SLACK_BOT_TOKEN`.
-2. Click **Basic Information** from the left hand menu and follow the steps in the App-Level Tokens section to create an app-level token with the `connections:write` scope. Copy this token. You will store this in your environment as `SLACK_APP_TOKEN`.
 
+1. Rename `.env.sample` to `.env`.
+2. Open your apps setting page from [this list](https://api.slack.com/apps), click _OAuth & Permissions_ in the left hand menu, then copy the _Bot User OAuth Token_ into your `.env` file under `SLACK_BOT_TOKEN`.
+```zsh
+SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=YOUR_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN
+```
+3. Click _Basic Information_ from the left hand menu and follow the steps in the _App-Level Tokens_ section to create an app-level token with the `connections:write` scope. Copy that token into your `.env` as `SLACK_APP_TOKEN`.
 ```zsh
-# Replace with your app token and bot token
-# For Windows OS, env:SLACK_BOT_TOKEN = <your-bot-token> works
-export SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=<your-bot-token>
-export SLACK_APP_TOKEN=<your-app-token>
-# This sample uses OpenAI's API by default, but you can switch to any other solution!
-export OPENAI_API_KEY=<your-openai-api-key>
+SLACK_APP_TOKEN=YOUR_SLACK_APP_TOKEN
 ```
+4. Save your OpenAI key into `.env` under `OPENAI_API_KEY`.
+```zsh
+OPENAI_API_KEY=YOUR_OPEN_API_KEY
+```
+
 
 ### Setup Your Local Project
 ```zsh
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index fb7bccf..0c3f1e2 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 import os
 import logging
 
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
 from slack_bolt import App
 from slack_bolt.adapter.socket_mode import SocketModeHandler
 from slack_sdk import WebClient
 
 from listeners import register_listeners
 
+# Load environment variables
+load_dotenv(dotenv_path=".env", override=False)
+
 # Initialization
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 5cd8a51..76b1703 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ openai
 pytest
 flake8
 black
+python-dotenv==1.1.1