Habit stacking: The #1 trick when it comes to building positive new habits.
“Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things, but they do them without thinking, too fast for the other team to react. They follow the habits they’ve learned.”
- Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit
Without even knowing it, you probably already have a solid set of habits that you’ve built up. Everything you do automatically in your day to day is a habit. The time you wake up, your morning routine, your work out, hygiene, the list goes on. You may have habits you’re absolutely proud about, as well as some that may not be so favorable.
And how do you change unwanted habits? Enter, habit stacking!
One way that has been found effective in building new habits is to identify a habit you already do each day and then stack your next shiny new habit on top of that. Your current habits are already built into your brain, so by linking new habits to your already automatic pattern, you’re more likely to find success in executing them.
Habit stacking is basically one thing that occurs right after the other. Like, after I turn off my alarm in the morning, I drink a glass of water, or after I finish class at SweatDreams, I will foam roll for 5 minutes.
Habit stacking has a magical, but simple formula, which is: After/Before [current habit], I will [new habit]. Creating habits obviously uses brain power, but once established and it becomes automatic, it takes less
brain power and less effort, giving you more time and energy in the day.
Overall, habits create routine, routine creates consistency, and consistency creates progress. Although sometimes mundane, having a solid set of habits that you do consistently will elevate your success in obtaining your goals.
Here are some tips and tricks when establishing new habits:
Tie a “why” to it. When you tag on a meaningful purpose to the things you do, you are more likely to push through.
If your habit seems like a beast, try breaking it into smaller chunks. Simplicity is key.
Make it specific. When you add a time frame, location, or very specific task, it is way easier to execute.
Need support? Grab an accountability buddy! SweatDreams is full of them!
Reminder: This is YOUR habit. You do you, boo!
By Theresa Raisebeck.
