Here’s one new technique that I am using to incorporate new habits into my regular routine.
Have you ever reached the end of a long day and thought to yourself “I didn’t accomplish nearly as much as I would have liked to do.”?
I certainly have. Many times, in fact.
I don’t know about you, but I have a daily mental bandwidth that I work within.
I do everything that I can throughout the day, but at a certain point, there is just nothing left for me to give.
While I have a few different techniques I use to help keep me focused and active, I have come across one that I really enjoy and it’s called “Habit Stacking”.
I first learned about this technique from the New York Times Bestseller “Atomic Habits” by James Clear (a fantastic, unintimidating, book that I am still trying to finish because I am a slow reader.)
In a nutshell, “Habit Stacking” is a technique where you attach a new habit that you want to incorporate into your routine to an existing one that you consistently do.
For example, I recently bought a few different plants for my apartment. Before this, I wasn’t much of a plant person because I would get overwhelmed by the idea of having to water them at specific times.
With my busy schedule, I would often forget to water them.
I thought about one habit that I consistently do without fail, and it came to me.
On every day off, I make coffee.
Every Saturday (and Sunday) morning, I start my day by making my delicious (and much-needed) cup of joe. Without it, the haze of slumber haunts me well until the afternoon.
So I thought to myself “I religiously make myself a cup of coffee every weekend morning. Why don’t I link this habit to the new habit that I am trying to incorporate into my weekly routine?”
Now, every Saturday, I make my morning cup of coffee and while the coffee is pouring into my favorite mug, I fill up a jar of water and each of my plants.
By the time I am done with the plants, I have a fresh cup of coffee waiting for me.
Not only do I “kill two birds with one stone”, but I feel like I have earned that delicious cup of coffee.
The delayed gratification of getting my caffeine drives me to complete the task I have “stacked” onto the habit of making coffee.
I wholeheartedly encourage you to give this fun little technique out.
I do it all the time now.
When I commute to work, I listen to an educational podcast.
When I ride my at-home bike, I “stack” watching tv or reading a medium article as well.
When I have a long phone conversation, I sketch a new art piece.
I think the trick is that it’s best to “stack” your new habit onto a habit that you consistently do without fail. The important ones.
It’s much more difficult to “stack” practicing a new language onto working out if you do not do either of those things regularly.
My advice is that you start with a habit that you know you have to perform.
These are habits such as:
- Making breakfast (or coffee)
- Getting into bed
- Commuting to work
- Walking to the grocery store
These are some activities most of us have to perform on a regular basis.
It’s a simple and fun technique that can help add new habits to your life and ultimately increase your level of productivity.
Why not give “Habit Stacking” a try this week?
What’s the worst that can happen?
Getting too much done?
