Habit Stacking Thread 📚

[Mellmars1185]

Hello BIC! Habit stacking is something I have been doing mindfully for the past few years now and thought it would be fun to discuss and share here. It has helped me save time, be more efficient and have more time for what is important to me (spend time with family/friends, scroll on BIC, read).

What is habit stacking?

Habit stacking is essentially exactly what it sounds like: taking a new habit and adding it to something you already do habitually. Habit stacking works by identifying a habit or a behavior you want to start doing and tacking it onto something you already do regularly.

Example (I do all of these at the same time):

First Habit - Prepping and making a meal in the Instant Pot

Second - Put a load of laundry on while the food is cooking

Third - Putting hair oil on my scalp or put a hair mask in

Forth - Work out (while I am working out, dinner is cooking, laundry is washing and my hair is getting a treatment)

I thought maybe this could be a space where we discuss our habit stacking, share ideas, support, learn and motivate eachother. 

What habit stacking did you do today? 

 

 

Spoiler

I am open for suggestions for this thread. Maybe we can do challenges weekly or monthly?

[peculiarzmakeup]

That is such an amazing and efficient way to do hair care and self care, I love how you combind, it’s helpful to see examples! So amazing 🤩 @Mellmars1185 

[Mellmars1185]

@peculiarzmakeup Thank you! I am looking forward to hearing about everyones habit stacking! 

[missjeanie]

@Mellmars1185 I'm loving this idea!  I know I have some of my morning routines that might qualify, and at this point if I do them out of order I'm lost and running behind.  I don't typically give myself enough time in the morning, 30 minutes from wake up to out the door max.  Habit stacking or just plain rushing?  lol

Skincare sinks in while I do my hair and then a youtube video plays when my make up goes on.  

In my evening routine though I like to make a pot of coffee to put in the fridge while I clean my kitchen.  Then post shower if I do a face mask I always use that time where it's sitting to scroll on BIC or new releases.  

I need to work on some of the household task stacking!!

[itsfi]

Hmmm... making a pot of coffee while cleaning the kitchen, you say @missjeanie?? I may need to give that a try <<side eyes all the stuff that needs to be tidied up in the kitchen>>

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Lol... I feel like my kitchen has become a dumping grounds of late.  I need to clear off my table and force myself to use it as a dining table rather than a collection spot for things I intend to take photos of! 

[Mellmars1185]

@missjeanie Sounds great! It is nice that you can get everything done in 30 min. Making the coffee at night helps for the morning rush. I get my coffee ready in the evening also!

[missjeanie]

@Mellmars1185 Ha ha... rushing for the last 40 years since I hate getting out of bed! 

[sister13]

Sounds great! I hadn’t heard of this but I try to do this sometimes and would love to do it more consciously. 

One I can think of it when I’m waiting for water to boil for coffee, I try to unload the dishwasher, or clear items from the refrigerator if they’re  past their prime, instead of just scrolling on my phone or whatever. @Mellmars1185 

[Mellmars1185]

@sister13 Those are  good ones! It is so easy to just scroll and lose track of time. Sometimes I don't realize how long some items are past due in the fridge. I stopped buying salad dressing because of that... I guess I don't make enough salads at home?!? Lol. I heard about habit stacking on a podcast. Since then I mentioned it to my SO and he has been mindful of it too!

[Mellmars1185]

I will start off by sharing some of my morning routine 'habit stacking'. I wash my face and put my skin care on so that while I am drinking my coffee, my skincare has time to dry down before I do my makeup. While I am doing my makeup, I listen to podcasts or sometimes listen to a gratitude meditation 🧘‍♀️☕️💄

[itsfi]

These are fantastic habit stacking routines @Mellmars1185! 💗

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thank you! I can't wait to share more of these habits 😊. Thank you for the inspiration.

[Mellmars1185]

Tagging some BIC members who might be interested

@itsfi @missjeanie @jaaayp 

[itsfi]

Love this @Mellmars1185! I had never heard of habit stacking until you mentioned it. It sounds like such a great way to go about developing and maintaining good habits. Ever since you mentioned it, a couple of habits I've been trying to stack together (or at least have been working on) include:

Reading for leisure while waiting for dinner to be done. The habit / behavior I want to start doing regularly (more regularly) is reading for leisure. Cooking dinner is something I already do regularly. Depending on what I'm making, there's usually a period of time that ranges from 10 - 30 minutes when I'm just waiting for something to be done, whether it's a dish I've put in the oven or on the stove. I've used that time to sit, relax, and read. 

I'm going to think about some other habits I want to work on stacking and will come back to post those later this week. Thanks for the tag mellmars1185! Looking forward to hearing what others are doing and learning. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi That sounds like a lovely way to wind down while dinner is being made. I find that reading can clear my mind after a long day at work. Also cooking at home is such a great habit! 

[itsfi]

Yes @Mellmars1185; exactly. It has been a great way to clear my mind a little and has served as a thoroughly  enjoyable way to get in some "me" time on nights I might have more work to do after dinner.