Habit stacking has become a hot topic recently. Pomodoro timers and habit trackers are commonly touted as amazing tools to improve your lifestyle. Yet, you're not alone if you've found that these tools haven't worked for you.
The fact is, habit-building is a difficult process. It requires consistency and dedication, and it can be disheartening to make a mistake or two in the process. Many people find habit stacking is one of the easiest and best methods to build habits because it builds off of existing habits.
What Is Habit Stacking?
Habit stacking is a trendy new form of habit building. Rather than attempting to associate random times or locations with your new habit, with habit stacking, you just add the habit onto something you do already.
For example, if you reliably check your email every time you boot up your work PC, that's a perfect habit to stack on top of. Whether you want to open the blinds or take a lesson in a career advancement course, there are plenty of amazing things you can add to your day.
How Can I Habit Stack to Improve My Career?
To improve your career with habit stacking, you just need to adopt the right habits. While the best habits will vary depending on what kind of career you have, here are some of the best ways you can start.
- Make a to-do list at the beginning of the day. This is great for keeping track of priorities and will help you understand whether you're on pace.
- Stretch regularly. Incorporating frequent stretching into your day can reduce the risk of pain associated with your role, whether working at a desk all day or standing to help customers.
- Eat a healthy snack. Bite-size snacks like nuts or granola bars can provide an incredible energy boost that will last the entire workday.
- Improve yourself. Taking just five minutes a day to learn new skills or work on a certificate program can show your dedication and make you a competitive applicant for new roles.
Tips for Habit Stacking
1. Start Simple and Don't Overthink It
One of the most common ways people unintentionally sabotage their habit stacking is overthinking it. You don't have to worry about whether you'll maintain the habit in several months' time.
It's best to take a different perspective on habit stacking. Start by thinking of something you want to achieve, and then determine what steps you can take to get there.
If you lose momentum and stop, that's OK. Being 5% complete is better than having made no progress at all. And best of all, you can always start the habit again.
2. Set Milestones and Reward Yourself
Maintaining momentum is important when building a new habit. One of the best ways to keep your momentum high is to reward yourself on a structured basis.
For example, if you eat your healthy snack for a week or do your stretches every day, you could reward yourself by booking a fun activity after work.
It's important to remain consistent in how you reward yourself. While instant gratification might be tempting, it will hamper the ability of the reward to encourage your habit. Set a reward schedule and strictly stick to it.
3. Habit Stack With Friends
It's commonly known that habits are easier to keep when practiced with friends. This notion holds true for habit stacking.
Finding peers interested in the same improvement can help because you will help hold each other accountable. When you habit stack with friends, you will want to succeed.
If you decide to habit stack with friends, you should also consider if the habit can be made into a fun social activity. For example, stretches can be done as a group lesson.
Improve Your Career With Consistency
No matter what healthy or productive habit you're looking to adopt, the benefits are incredible. Incorporating small daily habits like stretches or book pages can help you transform your life day by day. While it might be hard to maintain a habit, there's no limit to the incredible improvements you can make to your life as long as you remain consistent.