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?

[itsfi]

@heartsmyface @Mellmars1185, I transfer product from my full size Laneige to the mini or travel size containers. It makes me feel like I've made progress when I finish the mini's. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Smart idea!!! So I take that as I should open another mini Laneige so I can fill it up, hehe. I can leave it at work! I have never thought to save them before. It will be nice to repurpose the mini! @heartsmyface 

[itsfi]

Keep the mini containers @Mellmars1185! I depot the full size into a couple of the mini's and place them in different places - my nightstand, living room, laundry room, work desk, this bowl in my kitchen that collects random things - paper clips, business cards, mini Laneige containers, etc. 😂 For whatever reason, it's easier to go through the mini's. Oh, and sometimes, I use the mini containers to mix eyeshadow or blush with some lip balm for my very own bespoke tinted lip balm. This I learned from @heartsmyface years ago - it still comes in handy! 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi @heartsmyface Thank you for your expertise! Good thing I picked up thr LANEIGE Midnight Minis Lip Set !

[Mellmars1185]

@heartsmyface Lol, I love your advice! Time to test out the Farmacy. The Laneige I have open is FS too. I have also finished minis. I actually prefer them because I can move on to other items more quickly. The FS is an LE and I couldnt resist. I have been using it before bed for months now and I have a lot of product left!

[Mellmars1185]

@heartsmyface Lol, I love your advice! Time to test out the Farmacy. The Laneige I have open is FS too. I have also finished minis. I actually prefer them because I can move on to other items more quickly. The FS is an LE and I couldnt resist. I have been using it before bed for months now and I have a lot of product left!

[itsfi]

2nd that @Mellmars1185 @heartsmyface. I will be using the conditioner as a mask. I also want a sauna now. 😀

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi   Oh gosh I highly recommend one if you’ve got the space!  A sauna is a game changer if you have any inflammation or bloating or if you want to increase circulation and haven’t got a lot of energy. Plus it’s a great source of seratonin!  I always feel happy and relaxed afterward.  The stretching and singing may also help with that.  It’s something I look forward to at the end of the day. 

I was missing my sauna sessions in Atlanta!  I thought for sure the hotel would have one if they had a gym and a pool.  
You can probably get the same heating benefits with the mask with a blow dryer or with the steamer on in the shower. 

[sister13]

Oh nice! I went to grab that conditioner because I thought it was a leave in conditioner but then realized it isn’t so I might try it next shower (if I remember)! @heartsmyface 

[heartsmyface]

@sister13  It’s really nice!  leave it in for ten minutes and it hydrates even the driest ends! 

[sister13]

Got in a quick habit stack for some self care tonight and remembered to snap a pic so I’d remember to post. Been so busy, but I felt I needed a little skin and hair care, and a well deserved glass of wine. 

I’ve had this Alpha-H mask for a while and I like it since I finished my mini of Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial™ AHA + BHA Mask Mini 0.5 oz/ 15 mL . The alpha H is pretty Gentle and exfoliates a bit but doesn’t irritate my skin (I still like babyfacial better!)

I didn’t have a lot of time but I remembered to:

(1) pour a glass of wine before heading upstairs (I have these cute vintage mini glasses from my mom)

(2) put a new series on my iPad (Pink Collar Crimes on Paramount +)

(3) pop the Alpha-H mask on my face

(4) add some hair oil Kérastase Elixir Ultime Refillable Hydrating Hair Oil  and  Fable & Mane MahaMane™ Smooth & Shine Hair Oil 1.8 oz / 55 mL #to my scalp and ends with a bit of scalp massage.

(5) brush out my hair carefully before my shower. This takes a few minutes since my last wash day was air dry and I hadn’t brushed it in a couple of days to hold the waves. 

I was pretty proud of this routine until I saw @itsfi’s routines, lol! 😂 @Mellmars1185 

 

[Mellmars1185]

@sister13 I love your habit stacking routine. It sounds like some well deserved YOU time! I should try the DE baby facial mini again. What do you wnjoy about it? Your hair care routine sounds lovely. I can imagine that the oils helped with making your hair easier to brush through, while distributing the product all over. I have also been brushing my hair before washing because I learned that the hair is more fragile when wet. Is the series you are watching a true crime show?

[itsfi]

@sister13, excellent routine! I hope things slow down a bit for you … and that you have more opportunities to wind down with a glass of wine. Cheers! Ahhh, I get notstalgjc whenever I see or read about Alpha-H, and Babyfacial, too. 

Making a note about Pink Collar Crimes. 📺 Only Murders In The Building is coming to a close soon for the season so I may need to find something else to watch. 

[sister13]

Thanks, it’s a documentary style true crime series about women/suburban mom’s doing crimes. It’s a bit cheesy but fits the bill for a low attention show, haha! @itsfi 

[heartsmyface]

@sister13  Oh this sounds like a perfect evening!  

[sister13]

Thanks! Well it was like a rapid fire self care session but glad I could fit it in! @heartsmyface 

[itsfi]

Habit Stack Check-In #5: Early Fall

The 3 habit stacking practices I've been aiming to do this year have been going pretty well. I've made some adjustments (which I've highlighted in bold and italics below) to account for weather and just what is working better for me these day.

Habit Stack: Morning Routine - Wellness + Hydration + Skincare + Makeup 

• Rise and shine; make my way to the kitchen to boil water and make myself a cup of warm water 
• Sip on the warm water while I stretch - 5-10 minutes - with the colder weather, it helps me to loosen my muscles and stretch a little in the morning
• Make my way back to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of cool water with lemon; and 
• Sip on my lemon water while I go through my skincare routine, usually taking sips as I wait for product to absorb before moving on to the next step, and taking my vitamins too (which I keep in the SEPHORA COLLECTION Supplement Case - this has come in handy when traveling and I've gotten into the habit of using it for my daily vitamins when I'm at home as well
• While waiting for the Sephora Collection Caffeine Eye Mask to do its thing (recommended wear time = 5 minutes to a brightened under eye area), (Habit-Stack-In-Progress!!)  I try to remember to reach for my 5-minute gratitude journal and work through the morning prompts 
• Once my skincare is done - SPF applied, I'll return to the kitchen to have breakfast (giving my SPF and skincare to sink in), then make my way back to the bathroom to
• Floss + brush teeth + mouthwash before
• Moseying to my room to get dressed and do my makeup, with the order depending on what I'm wearing
• Hair care and then I scurry about to grab 
• Jacket / Coat + Shoes + Purse + (possibly coffee to go) before heading down the stairs and out the door!

Habit Stack: Evening - Digital Detox & Self Care (to unwind, destress, and sleep better) after skincare routine 

• No using my phone or laptop at least 30 minutes before bed. If they're in my room, I move them out into small shelf in the hallway - close enough for me to get to my phone if it rings (or the alarm goes off), but not so close that it's right next to me. I've limited it to my phone or laptop as I have occasionally incorporated reading on my Kindle and/or listening to an audiobook as part of my unwinding habits.
• Monday & Wednesday evenings - PEMF mat for 20-40 minutes
• Tuesday & Thursday evenings - restorative yoga by candlelight 
• Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings - varies, depending on my mood

Habit Stack: Leisure Reading with a Meal, Snack, or Cup of Coffee

• I have a goal of one book per month this year and I'm still on track with that 👍, but I haven't been practicing this particular habit stack as frequently as I was doing earlier in the year. I was aiming for 3 - 4 times per week and now, it's more like 2-3 times per week - at least 1-2 days during the week (15 - 20 minutes each occasion) and at least one time over the weekend, with this being a longer reading period (20 - 45 minutes).

I think these habit stacking practices, as adjusted should continue to work for me through the end of the year, @Mellmars1185. The PEMF mat may get even more use with the colder weather. 

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi  This sounds like such a good way to wake up.  I’m not very stretchy in the mornings but maybe that’s even more reason to try adding some stretches to my morning routine.  

[itsfi]

Doooo it @heartsmyface! Even if you start out with doing them in bed (and it gets you a few more minutes under the covers 😊). I feel like it adds a little spring to my step. The snap! crackle! pop! sounds took some getting used at first but all good now. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Your morning routine sounds relaxing and productive at the same time! You are definitely getting in lots of hydration! Do you notice any difference in how you feel/skin? I love your idea of stretching in the morning. Movement seems to help wake me up in the morning, but fitting in a workout is difficult when I am so tired. How long would you say it takes you to do your morning routine? Your digital detox is very inspiring. The PEMF mat sounds lovely. I use a heating pad at night so the mat definitely sounds like a great habit stack. I need to do more research on this item to see what it does!

[itsfi]

Thank you so much for saying that, @Mellmars1185. 😊 I've been trying to make my morning routine feel less rushed - so that "being in the moment" involves less chaotic moments.

I need to get in more water on a consistent basis, especially when it's colder out - I just feel better when I do, and from a purely vain perspective, my skin benefits. I mean, diet, exercise, lifestyle choices (e.g., quality sleep, etc) are major contributing factors as well but the water intake helps too. Also, and it could just be me, but I find that if I start off drinking water (and being consistent with it), I'm more mindful of keeping it up throughout the day. 

Same with the stretching. Years ago, I used to be so much better about bouncing out of bed and being all excited to get to the gym, etc. Now, not so much. 🤣 I sometimes lie in bed thinking about what I might skip in my morning routine to get in an extra 5 minutes under the covers, without being too late getting out the door. That's not so much a great habit. 😏

Depending on how leisurely a pace I'm going or what step(s) I may be skipping (e.g., some mornings, stretching takes place while I'm doing my skincare routine or brushing my teeth/rinsing with mouthwash, or the eye mask doesn't happen, or breakfast is just a banana, or the makeup routine is the baaaare minimum), I can get through this routine between 30-45 minutes, I'd say. I clocked myself this morning, and came in just under 45. I tried to document it as best as I could - 

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!