diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2bc6dcd..188c46a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ target/
 /target
 
 # env
-.envrc
\ No newline at end of file
+.envrc
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f1df87b..a55b0be 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ test ModulatingForceBot
 
 ## Usage
 
-Set the following environment variables
+1. Set the following environment variables ; either on environment variables or in an .env file
 
 `access_token = <oath token>`
-
-`bot_channels = <chnl1>,<chnl2>`
\ No newline at end of file
+`bot_channels = <chnl1>,<chnl2>`
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 5926d6d..769afb8 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@ use twitch_irc::message::ServerMessage;
 use std::env;
 use std::time::Instant;
 use rand::Rng;
-
+use dotenv::dotenv;
 // mod helpers;
 
 #[tokio::main]
 pub async fn main() {
+
+    dotenv().ok();
+
     let login_name = "modulatingforcebot".to_owned();
     let oauth_token = env::var("access_token").unwrap().to_owned();