Habit stacking is a productivity and habit formation technique where you build new habits by “stacking” them onto existing ones. It involves attaching a new habit to a routine or behavior you already do consistently, making it easier to adopt. For example, if you want to start meditating daily, you might “stack” it onto your existing habit of brushing your teeth every morning, so you meditate right after brushing. This method leverages the power of existing routines to make new habits stick.
What kind of habits would you like to have?
HERE’S YOUR CHALLENGE:
What habits do you currently have that you know you need to tune up or drop?
One of the most beautiful things about being human is that we are capable of evolving and improving. Our brains are bendy and we are and never will be ‘stuck’. You have the autonomy and control over your own thoughts, actions, gestures, and relationships. What in your world would you like to improve? What in your world needs to stop?
Think critically about what a perfectly productive day would look like in your world. Identify the habits you would need to create that day, and then pick one of those habits to begin as a task. This is important: only one. If you try to overhaul your persona, then chances of permanent adaptation are desperately low, so only pick one at a time. Think of it like adding flour to bread dough. You have to add a little bit at a time otherwise you’ll end up with a glumpy blob of gross goo instead of a beautiful dough ball. (Ask me how I know this). Over time, when that new task becomes a habit or ritual, add another. And another. Before you know it, you’re living a life by design rather than by default.
One habit I am quite proud of is journaling with my first cup of coffee every morning. I’ve found it a challenge in the past to journal every day, so couple of years ago I decided to make it a non-negotiable instead of a ‘that would be nice’. I isolated the barriers to hitting my goal, namely having a specific location and method of journaling as well as deciding exactly what I’m going to write about. I’m proud to say that journaling is now a part of me rather than just a chore to do. I bought a gorgeous journal and it lives right next to my reading chair in my office with my favorite pen. I can’t ignore it even if I try.
If stacking habits is something that might be up your alley, I encourage you to read up on it. Two incredible books that have changed my morning game are Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. Check them out!
