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?

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi  Your nails are adorable!   And slso, how do you have fantastic lighting sverywhere you go?   I swear there are only four places in my house where the lighting treats me well 

[itsfi]

I do a different variation of these googly eye nails every year @heartsmyface, to kickstart Halloween. Four spaces is great; I’m sure you have more, you just have to find them. More photo opportunities! 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi I loved reading through your morning routine! The ice cubes are a great way to have your tea in a timely manner. I think being mindful about your choices and habits is a big part of being consistent! I totally hear you about debating to skip certain habits. I do that a lot with my workouts. Sometimes getting started is half of the battle. You are doing a great job with your habit stacking. It is motivation for myself. I definitely could use some of your tips and tricks to spruce up my routine. The straw also definitely makes for a fun experience for your lemon water! Photos and everything under 45 min! I am impressed. I wake up one hour and a half before I leave and I don't get this much stuff in in the AM.

Side note - Your nails are holding up so well. I thought you had gel nail polish on!

[itsfi]

"Sometimes getting started is half of the battle." 100% agree @Mellmars1185! I'm been trying to get in some long walks in the early evening; I'm more motivated knowing that it gets dark earlier so if I don't go when I have the chance, it won't happen since sunset will happen earlier and earlier. 

Yes, super happy with the straw. I read that using a straw when drinking lemon water can help with the acidity from the lemon not being so harsh on teeth. Done! lol, my photos were suuper quick - I was more focused on trying to document the process and less with lighting. I have to admit though that when I took the photo of the tea, I had tried to turn on the light on my range and accidently hit the button for the fan, at "high" speed (and therefore really loud volume) - that woke me up right away! 🤣

It's a good time to revisit morning routines - the colder weather motivates me to get it all done faster. lol. Is there something in your routine or a part of it that you find takes up more time than you'd prefer?

Awww, thanks. I'm too scared to do gel - my nails are doing better consistently but it's taken a lot of trial and error and time to get here, and I'm a smidge nervous that gel / curing under the lamp will set my progress back. I do love the idea of gel, especially the longevity. I go over my polish with a top coat every 2-3 days; that helps. I forgot to seal the tips of my nails this time and it's starting to show. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi The straw is an excellent idea for drinking anything acidic! So smart! Too funny about the fan.

In the morning, I would say my skincare and makeup takes up the most time. I like wearing a full face of makeup to work. However, I do work at home sometimes. On the days I WFH, my goal is to get up at the same time I normally get up for work and fit in a workout or go for a walk. I find it hard to do. But I think it is something I can work on.

Next time I do my nails I am going to try your idea of adding a top coat. How do you seal the tips?

[itsfi]

Oooooh, the walk in the morning would be a great way to start the day. Kudos to you for putting that on your to do list @Mellmars1185, especially when it gets cold out.

Sealing the tips - when I apply a color polish to my nails, between the first and second coat, and also if I remember, while applying the second coat, I try to gently brush the brush against the front edge of the tips of my nails to "seal" the color in, so to speak. (Let me know if that doesn't make sense and I'll try to explain that better). I should do the same thing with the top coat when I reapply a top coat over my mani every few days, but I don't always remember to do it. I find when I'm more consistent about it, it helps extend the wear of the polish - color chips / peels less at the tips. Depending on the polish and how rough I am on my hands, I can usually get 7-10 days of wear without the color beginning to fade or chip. If I'm wearing a more sheer color or a flesh toned shade, I can sometimes get it to last for 10-14 days. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thank you! That makes sense to me. I will try it out. I usually get 2 days out of a mani with my old top coat but with the glisten and glow, I have been getting about 5 days. I will try these steps out! This is very encouraging and will help me get through my collection.

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, Glisten & Glow is my favorite top coat. ♥️ Adds a great shine to my polish. I would love to hear how it works for you to reapply top coat every couple of days. The most challenging part of it for me is finding a good time to do it. If I do it too late in the evening, I’m prone to fall asleep before it’s fully dry. 🙊 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi I can totally relate. I found my previous top coat stayed tacky for many hours longer than the G&G. Timing is everything ! If I remember, after dinner would be ideal ⏳️

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi  oh I would have never thought to go over the polish with a clear coat regularly!   So simple but not something I’d think of on my own without first seeing nail chips! 

[itsfi]

@heartsmyface, it gives me a few extra days. You can use a quick drying top coat if you don’t have time to wait for it to dry. I do it while I’m watching a show or reading (easier if I’m reading on my Kindle).

[itsfi]

Habit Stack Check In #4 - August Update

Coming in late with my update for this month @Mellmars1185.

Habit Stack - Reading for leisure while either out for lunch/coffee or waiting for dinner to finish cooking

• This went phenomenally well when I was on vacation - I finished 4 books during my trip. Coming back from it and re-engaging in my daily routine, however, has been rough on my habit stacking efforts. 😔
• I intended to take a week off from leisure reading because while I loved getting through 4 books, that's a lot for me in a short amount of time. I wanted to reset my expectations for myself and it's been a lot more challenging than I expected - not so much to read, but to carve out the time. But I do want to get back into the habit of it, even if it's not with the same regularity or routine as I was keeping to pre-vacation. 
• Aiming to kickstart the habit tomorrow morning, with a walk to a cafe where I'll sit with a cup of coffee and my book. 

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)

• Keeping up with this in the morning has been okay, but it could definitely be better in terms of consistency and getting through a full 8oz before I leave for work.
• Doing it at night, however, has been a no-go the last couple of weeks. On the nights I get through a full routine, I don't always remember to bring my water bottle with me. Ugh. Most nights though, particularly this week, I've either just done a quick routine then gone to bed or there's been a day or two where I've fallen asleep (not intending to) and gotten up a 2-3 hours later and then quickly removed my makeup and applied moisturizer and a face oil. 
• Tonight though was different. I came home, poured myself a glass of water, started dinner, and went through a longer-than-typical evening skincare routine while dinner was cooking. <<insert pat on back ... here>> 😊 Done! And you know what? I feel better. 

This was tonight's routine, complete with a glass of water! 👍 And I had an audio book playing while I was going through my routine - another habit stack! Not sure if I'll keep up with this, but it went well tonight.

Habit Stack - Digital Detox & Self Care (to unwind, destress, and sleep better)

• The digital detox has been happening ... most of this month. The concurrent self care though hasn't been keeping up with the digital detoxing - I've been falling asleep without even thinking about unwinding, or I've decided to bypass the unwinding portion of my evening routine altogether and just go to bed after washing up.
• Getting back on the wind down track again tonight! In fact, I'm heading off to unwind right after I hit "Post" on this update. Going to stretch, apply cuticle oil to my nails, have some quiet time, put on a steam eye mask (and maybe a couple of the products in the LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Plump, Firm & Glow Set) and drift off to sleep. Night, night, BIC!🛌

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Ohh reading while on vacation sounds like the ultimate reset. I totally understand getting back into a routine can be hard. Walking for a coffee sounds like a nice treat. That is something I would like to make more time for. I am glad you feel better after taking the time for an extra long skincare night and some water. I hope you find a balance this month that works best for you ❤️

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, getting in some fresh air and walking has been nice; I want to try to make it more of a routine. I sometimes find myself not even getting the coffee - but don't worry, I can always make some at home. I will not be without my coffee. 🤣 I'm lucky to have a few coffee places within a good walking distance of me, some closer than others. I started putting all my coffee shop gift cards in a bowl that sits on the table near the front door, so I can grab one on my way out. 

Thank you; balance can feel elusive sometimes but it's worth the effort; just have to find what works for me. I've been thinking about it and will see what sort of plan I come up with. 🤞 I've noticed that sleep plays a crucial factor so I've been trying to be very good about getting to bed earlier - AND doing some sort of wind down routine before that.

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Those are some great ideas. Oh yes sleep is a big factor. Are you a night or morning person?

Your last poat reminded me there is a little balery near my house where I can get coffee. I just need to find where I can carve time in. It seems when I get home from work I go go go until it is time to sit down with my SO. Once I sit down, I dont get back up until it is time to go to bed. Maybe during that time aftet dinner when I am sitting down, I should try getting back up and walk. I think I might sleep better when I am phyically more tired. Plus a walk would help clear my mind. 

[itsfi]

Yes, yes @Mellmars1185, getting some fresh air and/or sun (if your walking break is in the morning) is so nice and I do find it is good to clear the mind. The hard part, for me, is finding the time or making the time. I started small, just a quick walk at first, 10 minutes, and as I was realizing how good it felt afterwards or even during, it became a little easier to carve out a little more time either that day or another day. Some of it for me was tacking on errands to the walk - if I have to get something done anyways and there's someplace close by, then that made it easier - multi-tasking. Walking to the ATM during my lunch break. Walking to Sephora to drop off empty bottles to recycle (and making sure not to linger too long in the store 🤣). 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Walking at work is a great idea. Oh, yes starting small is a great idea. It is great for starting a habit 😊. Lately, I have gotten in the habit of reading. But I think it would be better to get outside. Ohhh, a Sephora during walking distance? Now that is very convenient! 

[lmaster]

@Mellmars1185 I usually multitask/ habit stack on a daily basis. 

Loading laundry, dishwasher, prepping food, relaxing and masking in the bath, making my food list while I cook for the next day 

[Mellmars1185]

@lmaster Thanks for sharing! Planning food is always so helpful. I find it hard to think of things last minute. When I do, it usually ends up costing more because I end up ordering. Masking while having a bath sounds like a relaxing way to practice self care 💞

[heartsmyface]

@Mellmars1185  hey thanks for the tag!  I tried a new one recently with whitening strips.  I started going for early morning walks and decided I’d wear the strips while walking cause it’s exactly one hour.  Aaaaand now all my neighbours may think I have a lisp cause of course I have to stop and chat with everyone I see 😜.  I had no idea everyone was out doing yard work and walking at 6am and this was when to meet the neighbours! 😆

[CynthieLu]

I love that stack! @heartsmyface I would have such a hard time leaving the house with those in, I know that talking to anyone would be tricky. They tend to make my mouth salivate heavily if I move my face at all. 😂