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?

[CynthieLu]

A little habit stack 🥞

I usually do a fair amount of baking on Sunday, that way we go into the work week with some foods ready to go, and it just makes life little easier. I try to do a loaf of bread and now english Muffins, plus a big dinner ( leftovers make the week better too 😉) When my kiddo gets home from school he can enjoy them and I don't have to worry he's hungry waiting for me to get home.

Baking takes time so I've started catching up with friends and family and we chat while I bake and cook. My hands are busy but it's really fun to connect, I just have the phone on speaker.

It's feels really good to connect and catch up. 

[itsfi]

Here are a couple of new(er) habit stacks that I'm implementing for winter 2025 @Mellmars1185. These are part of an ongoing self-care focus to prioritize sleep, which includes, among other things, unplugging from electronics (unless they help aid the sleep process - e.g., an app like Headspace to help fall asleep or listening to music or an audiobook, etc.) before bed. Last year, I've made an effort to unplug for 30 minutes before going to bed. One of my goals for this year - Happy New Years! What are your resolutions for 2025? 🎇🎆 - is to work up to / get in an hour digital detox before bed on a more regular or consistent basis.

 

I want to continue to use my HigherDOSE Infrared PEMF Go Mat for Recovery and Stress Reduction and this year, I'm pairing or stacking it with some aromatherapy (Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' By The Fireplace Scented Candle 5.8 oz/ 165 g (gratis)) and reading, or, in this cause, listening to an audiobook. I tried audiobooks (okay, one audiobook) last year and it didn't go as well as I had hoped. I suspect the type of book or genre may affect my appreciation for the audiobook format - my preference is for physical books or for the Kindle, something where I can see/read the words and underline quotes or portions of the book that are meaningful to me. I've picked out some books that I might be able to enjoy through an audiobook and will be giving them a try as I lie on the PEMF mat for 20 minutes or so and let it work its magic to help relax the muscles along my back. 

We're having a far colder winter than I've ever experienced since moving to the Bay Area, especially in the evenings, and I have a hard time falling asleep when it's cold. I could run the heat all night but that dries out my skin and we can't have that. 😉 So I've come up with this self care habit stack to help me fall asleep more easily and soundly. I turn on my electric blanket, at level 2 or 3, and then go about standing in front of my closet deciding what I'm going to wear the next day. After I lay out my outfit for the next day, I turn off my electric blanket - by then it has warmed up my bed, get in under the covers and use a steam eye mask - this one is unscented so I will sometimes dispense some of the Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Stop & Soothe Aromatherapy Pen 0.16 oz / 5 mL gel onto one of my palms, rub the product between my palms together, inhale the soothing (to me) mix of lavender and mint and rest my head on my pillow. Ahhhh.... 😴

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Your winter habit stacks are smart and sound enjoyable. I like the idea of paring aromatherapy and reading with your infrared mat. Warming up your bed while picking out an outfit is genius! Picking out an outfit the night before is something that I keep telling myself I want to do but I have noy made time for it. Did you sign up for any subscriptions for the kindle? I got one for Christmas and I am thinking it will be handy to bring on vacation but I have (many) physical books to get through  first. Thank you for always keeping us inspired on this thread ✨️

[CynthieLu]

Ooh using your electric blanket to warm up your bed at night, that is so much more effective than I hot water bottle or anything. I'm totally going to borrow this. 🙏🙏 It has been cold lately. ❄️ @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, it's feel so good to climb into a warm bed this time of year. Hope it works out for you; - it is looking to be a very cold winter for most of us this year.  You can either keep the electric blanket to use through the night or remove it - sandwiching it between the comforter and the sheet also works nicely.

[CynthieLu]

I really appreciate these tips @itsfi  I can't believe I've never used it for this purpose. I kinda save the electric blanket for whenever someone comes down with the fever and chills, it's really good at keeping you warm when your body has other ideas.

[caitbird]

A little habit stack I have been doing recently that's been working really well for me has been:

1) Crest white strips

2) facial mask (either a sheet mask or a wash-off clay mask)

3) journaling - I have been wanting to get back into journaling by hand for a long time (instead of notes that I keep on my laptop), so this has been great to get me back into the swing of this habit!

[CynthieLu]

This is a great idea to journal during masking/strip sessions @caitbird. I mean, your doing something for you and your mind. 💝 It sounds so relaxing. 

[Mellmars1185]

@caitbird Terrific trifecta! Those whiten strips really do make a difference. Journaling is something I want to look into. I used to write a diary when I was younger. 

[itsfi]

This is a lovely habit stack @caitbird 😍 I find there’s an added something about journaling by hand. 📔 There’s just something about that physical act of writing on paper ✍️ Great idea to combine it with masking and teeth whitening. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thank you! I agree, I feel like the physical act of writing encourages me to be more mindful and present in the moment. I appreciate digital note-taking/journaling too for different reasons, but journaling by hand has its own benefits that I felt made it worth getting back into this habit.

[itsfi]

100% @caitbird! I love the journal you chose too! 😍

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thanks! It's by Rifle Paper Co., I love their stuff!

[heartsmyface]

A bit of habit stacking is happening tonight:). Hydrating while lip masking, face masking and hair masking (with the Pattern Santo Paulo conditioner from the Sephoria swag bag. Gosh it smells good!  I like doing hair masks in the sauna and I consider this conditioner effective enough to be a hair maskI I have also have convinced myself it works better with sauna heat.!) when I rinse off afterward out comes the masking session. 

all the masking while doing vocal exercises and streching cause warmth is good for both.   Who knew I could do so much just sitting here.  Plus, it keeps my mind busy.
Caudalie VinoHydra Moisturizing Mask 2.5 oz / 75 ml Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm Honey Vanilla PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Mini Palo Santo Stylers Kit 

 

[itsfi]

Ahhh, love the photo! 😍 And love all the masking @heartsmyface! How long do you stay in the sauna?

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi   sauna time is usually 30 minutes but broken up into three  parts.  I go in for the first ten.  Sweat.  Do a quick rinse with cool water.  Then I apply the masks.  Then go back in.  Sweat some more.  Rinse just my body and face with cool water.  Then go back in. Sweat some more and rinse out my hair with warm water.  
The cool down afterward is the perfect time to fall asleep:) 
and thanks.  The masks don’t normally come into the sauna themselves. I just brought them in for the photo.  

[Mellmars1185]

@heartsmyface Masking in the sauna sounds devine! This gives me an idea of how to use the conditioner! How are you liking the Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm Honey Vanilla ? I gave one to my son's gf and she said it is amazing.

[heartsmyface]

@Mellmars1185  It is sooooo nice!!!  Better than the Laneige (which I also love)  Honey is one of my favourite lip flavours and it absorbs so well while also leaving a soft barrier on my lips.  So nice!   I wish it came in a tube.  That would make it perfect but I’m happy to use a lip brush!! 

[Mellmars1185]

@heartsmyface Oh how wonderful. My plan was to finish the Laneige I have open and then use the Farmacy one...I may need to open it sooner! I don't think I can wait that long 😆

[heartsmyface]

@Mellmars1185  Oh if you waited to finish a Laneige you’d be waiting like three years!!!!  Don’t do that to yourself!  😄If anything, maybe set a level you’d like to get to in the pot.  I’ve finished the mini ones before but never a full sized one!!