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Habit Stacking Thread 📚

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? 

 

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

 

1 Reply

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Yes! Most of my dinner clean up is finished as I go. And usually the remainder dishes are for my kiddo or spouse if I cooked the meal. 💕 @Mellmars1185 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@CynthieLu That is how it should be, right? I think I need to give them a friendly reminder about the dishes 😆

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Definitely remind them. @Mellmars1185  I feel so much better when the work of the house is shared. The mental load of caring for your home is invisible but we definitely feel it. ❤️

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

I've actually been telling clients to do this @Mellmars1185 , don't know if it's worked for them yet, but they seemed interested.  You might need to trademark this term 🤣

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@danielledanielle That makes me so happy it is spreading. I can't wait to hear if this works for them. Hehe I can't take credit for the term. I heard it on a podcast!!! 🤓

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

An impromptu habit stack 

 

We had a couple of days this week of unexpected power outages in my neighborhood. I wasn't impacted by the first one, but the second one ... Well, I went to light my candles (see, I knew my candle purchases would come in handy! 😉🤣) and then thought, "huh, I should do some restorative yoga by candlelight." And so I did! This habit stacking thread has gotten me into a good mindset, @Mellmars1185; thank you!

 

Also, just for the record, my big takeaway from this was "buy more candles." 😂🤣😂🤣

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@itsfi Wow I am inspired how you took an unplanned outage and turned it into something positive. I hope you were not out for too long. It probably helped you with less screen time also! I think more candles doesn't hurt especially when it comes to yoga by the candle light. Do you think you will continue this habit even when you do have power? I am glad this thread has helped! I am sorry you lost power, but it sounds like you made the best of it 🕯💡 🧘‍♀️

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Habit Stack Check-In #3 - it's been about 4 weeks since my last check in. I've made some tweaks to my habit stacks during that time, but for the most part, all has been going well @Mellmars1185. Yaaay! 
 
Habit Stack - Reading for leisure while waiting for dinner to finish cooking; 2-3 times per week
  • Well, I've been reading for leisure and I've been cooking dinner, but I have not been stacking those habits together since my last check in 
  • Last month, I took these two habits and ended up stacking two different activities with them. It wasn't so much deliberate and planned as I just sorta fell into it. I'm not sure if that means I have 2 different habit stacks or if this is just a temporary thing. 
  • Habit Stack 1A - Reading for leisure was happening 2-3 times per week on average, for 30 minutes to 2+ hours at a time. Instead of reading while cooking dinner, I would do it while eating my lunch or treating myself to coffee/tea and likely a snack/treat. With the latter, I'd often walk to the cafe/patisserie so that got in some exercise, fresh air, and vitamin D (sun). 
  • Habit Stack 1B - Instead of reading for leisure while waiting for dinner to finish cooking, i would work on some stretching exercises. I had some adjustment work done because I learned my shoulder was over-rotated. Following that, I've been doing stretching exercises. Most of that is done at set times during the week, but to get in some more stretching, I've been doing a handful of them when I'm cooking dinner or meal prepping - waiting for water to boil, or fish to finish steaming or baking, etc.
 
Habit Stack - Drinking at least one glass of water during morning and evening skincare routine (that's 16 oz down right there, if I stick to it)
  • This has been going very well. I am pretty sure that's been the case for the last couple of weeks because it has been very warm here and hydration is at the forefront of my mind. 
  • I've actually been doing this 3x per day because my evening routine is split in two parts - one shortly after I get home from work (take off my makeup and take my routine all the way through the moisturizer step) and then the last part about a half hour before bed (face oil, lip care, and (occasionally) a sleeping mask)
 
Habit Stack - Digital Detox & Self Care (to unwind, destress, and sleep better)
  • The self-care portion (unwinding, restorative yoga, setting out clothes before going to bed) has gone better than the digital detox portion of this habit stack, at least during the first half of this last week. I had my phone on my nightstand instead of outside of the bedroom, but got back on track with the 4th of July holiday. I will say also that after having my shoulder adjusted, I have been sleeping so much better - quality-wise and as far as the number of hours go between waking up during the night. Ahhhhhh!!! Feels so good. 
 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Go @itsfi , go!

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

😊Thank you @danielledanielle! Trying to keep on top of self care all the time, not just when I have time or when I really need it. 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@itsfi I think that it is amazing that your first habit stack turned into two separate habit stacks that work more for your routine! That is what it is all about! I am glad to hear your sleep is improving. That would make such a difference in the quality of your life in so many ways!

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

I love how well they've ended up working with my day-to-day routine @Mellmars1185. I'm really happy about the improvement in my sleep. I've just felt so much better as a result. 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

I think I'm 2 weeks into doing this: stretching and LED mask.

 

I need to stretch, badly... But can't get myself to do it nor do I have the 15 minutes to dedicate like I used to.  I realize I won't typically miss using my DDG mask, so I put those two together.  Collectively I'm getting 21 minutes off stretching now 🙌🏽🧘🏽‍♀️

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@danielledanielle Awesome habit stacking! When do you normally fit this habit stack in during your day?

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

At night @Mellmars1185   Once in awhile, I'll do the LED mask in the afternoon, but honestly, it's better at night - more relaxing that way.

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Habit Stacking Check-In #2 - I've fallen off most of my habit stacking practices and am in need of a reset or possibly, a change to what or how I'm going about the various habits.  
 
HABIT STACK #1 - Reading for leisure
  • Habits-To-Be-Stacked-In-A-Nutshell - Get in some reading time (with books or audio books) while waiting for dinner to finish cooking; 2-3 times per week
  • How's It Going?  Both habits - reading for leisure and cooking dinner - are still taking place, just not at the same time. Lol. Right now, I'm combining or stacking other habits when it comes what else I'm stacking each habit with. For instance, this habit pairing has been combined with either (a) breaking for lunch instead of working through it and reading for leisure during my lunch; and (b) getting ready for the next day (e.g., reviewing my calendar and to do list for the next day) while waiting for dinner to finish cooking).
  • Next Step(s), if any - I feel like the changes to how this habit stack was originally intended to look like is fine. It's now morphed into two different habit stacking practices and both (a) and (b) involve good habits to be practicing
 
HABIT STACK #2 - Scalp Care 
  • Habits-To-Be-Stacked-In-A-Nutshell - scalp care followed by workout followed by skin and body care, followed by mapping out weekly wardrobe and meal prep for the week, once per week
  • How's It Going? It was going fairly well until I hit a roadblock with each habit; lol. I've tried a couple different pre-wash hair oils and they don't seem to be compatible with my hair so it's no longer part of my hair / scalp care routine
  • Next Step(s), if any -  None for scalp care - I have other scalp care routines, but won't be including a habit stack with it. Instead, there will be a new Habit Stack #2 (see below)
 
HABIT STACK #3 - Digital Detox & Self Care (to unwind, destress, and sleep better)
  • Habits-To-Be-Stacked-In-A-Nutshell - 2-3 nights per week, move phone away from nightstand; and add restorative yoga by candlelight, followed by laying out clothes for the next day, and doing foot, hand and cuticle care before bedtime
  • How's It Going? The various habits are taking place just not stacked with each other. My phone is away from my nightstand and usually outside my bedroom every day now, so that's been a successful outcome. I need to be better about being more consistent with the restorative yoga.
  • Next Step(s), if any - Setting the nights on which this habit stack takes place and aiming to stick to it - Tuesday and Thursday evenings is the new schedule for the following habit stack - an hour before my target bedtime, go dark on electronics (no texting, emailing, being on the internet, etc.), 20-30 minutes restorative yoga by candlelight followed by having a Sourse dream chocolate, followed by oral hygiene care, then 10-20+ minutes of quiet time / journaling time, and then bedtime.
     
(NEW) HABIT STACK #2 - Water intake & skincare routine
  • Current habit - skincare routine morning and evening
  • New habit - drinking 8 oz water in some form while going through skincare routine
    • AM: wash face and sip through 8 oz water during skincare and makeup routine
    • PM: Sip through 8oz of water during skincare routine
  • Goal - Every day, 2x per day. My water intake hasn't been as good as it was so this'll get in 16 oz., with 8 of them being a kickstart to the day.
 
We shall see how these habit stacks shape up. I'll aim to check back in after about a month. @Mellmars1185 
 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@itsfi Great feedback! I have been falling off track lately with my stacking too. I really love the idea of getting water in while doing skincare. It is such a great way to start the day. I want to try this too! Thank you for sharing 🥰. 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Yes, yes, give it a try @Mellmars1185. 😊 I started today and sipped on a glass of water with a slice of lemon while doing my makeup this morning. I should get to taking my makeup off soon and will sip on water while I do that as well. That will put me at 66 oz of water today. I better go do that now before I forget. 😆 

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@itsfi Yes I can definitely swap put my morning coffee with makeup for water...or can I? Maybe I will just drink it faster so I can have both ! Do you notice a difference in how you feel/your skin yet?

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

Okay @Mellmars1185, my first thought was "why does the coffee have to go away?" 😲😅 Keep 'em both in the morning routine!! A sip of coffee, a sip of water. Another sip of coffee ... because it's coffee!! 

 

I know from past experience that the better my water intake, the better I feel, and it shows on my skin too. Today started really well - yay! Got up early, without feeling groggy or dragging (and when I was ready to get up not just because I couldn't sleep and ended up just getting up and out of bed). Off to do my skincare routine (and sip on water) - I'm going to try drinking my coffee while getting dressed for work this morning (and then go back and put on my lipstick). Let's see if that's a way to get in a glass of water and coffee without having to rush either. 🤞

Re: Habit Stacking Thread 📚

@itsfi That sounds like a great start for sure! I say, take all the wins we can 😊. Smart idea with drinking your coffee first and then applying Lipstick. I do that too. I also brush my teeth after coffee and before Lipstick. Getting up earlier is such a game changer if you have had enough sleep. I prefer to get things done in the morning (if I can) and relax after work. One thing I really want to work on is waking up earlier to get my workouts in on the days I work from home (instead of sleeping later).

Conversation Stats
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  • Here we go ... I went with tea this morning. Added a couple cubes of ice so it was easier to drink.
  • ... and we're stretching. Most days, I stretch on my yoga mat.
  • Skincare
  • My face - forgot to take photos of my breakfast.
  • Ahhh, coffee ...
  • And we're done!
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