In our fast-paced, modern lives, carving out time for ourselves can be a struggle, and finding the motivation to make positive changes for our wellbeing can be challenging. Sometimes, so much so that we might not even take action towards improving our health and quality of life. We can get caught up in setting overly ambitious goals that we then struggle to achieve, resulting in feelings of failure only for us to abandon the idea. But what if there was a simpler way to create lasting, positive habits in your life? Habit stacking might be the way.

Habit stacking is a concept popularised by author James Clear in his book "Atomic Habits." It's a simple yet powerful technique that involves integrating new bite-sized habits into your existing routines, making them more manageable and realistic. The idea behind habit stacking is to use your current routine and existing habits as a foundation for building new ones. Here's how you might put it into practice:

Take Inventory of Your Existing Habits: Start by taking a close look at your daily routine and make note of the habits you already have. These can be as simple as brushing your teeth in the morning, making a cup of coffee, or checking your email. They are actions you consistently do.

Choose Wellbeing Goals: Decide which areas of your wellbeing you'd like to improve. Whether it's physical health, mental wellbeing, or personal growth, select specific goals that align with your values and priorities. For example, you might want to meditate, exercise, or read more.

Find Complementary Habits: Once you've identified your existing habits and set your wellbeing goals, find habits that complement each other. For example, if you want to improve your physical health, you can pair your morning coffee habit with a 10-minute stretching routine.

Create a Habit Stack: Develop a habit stack by linking your existing habit with your new wellbeing habit. In this example, it might look like this: "After I make my morning coffee, I will do 10 minutes of stretching." Or "During my commute, I'll spend 5 minutes on breathwork when sat on the tube."

 Little and Often: The key to habit stacking is to start small. You don't need to overwhelm your entire routine at once. Begin with just one habit stack and focus on consistency. As you build momentum, you can gradually add more stacks to your daily routine.

 Track Your Progress:

1. Use a journal or a habit-tracking app to monitor your progress.
2. Celebrate your successes and learn from your setbacks.
3. Adjust your habit stacks as needed, making adjustments to what doesn't work, and this will make them more effective.

Habit stacking is a powerful technique that harnesses the effectiveness of consistency and incremental progress. By incorporating wellbeing habits into your existing routines, you'll find it easier to make positive changes in your life, ones that you can stick to. Over time, these small changes can have significant and long-lasting impacts on your overall wellbeing.

Remember that building habits take time and effort, so be patient. The key is to stay committed and keep refining your habit stacks as you go along. With habit stacking, you can transform your daily routine, bringing you one step closer to a healthier and happier life.