“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. The same way that money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them."
James Clear
As we make our way through the second month of the year ...
...we may become rather AWARE of how TRICKY it can be to make new, useful, well-intentioned HABITS STICK.
Are you noticing your New Year intentions are starting to slide? Do they appear less shiny? Is your motivation waning?
It can be notoriously difficult to make good habits stick.
So how best to train ourselves to make those gorgeous, useful, beneficial habits stick?
There are many ways … but the TRUE WINNER in my opinion is ...
🙌 HABIT STACKING 🙌
Habit stacking is simply the practice of attaching a new habit to a pre-existing one.
Look for triggers that are in-built habits you already do. For example:
Brushing your teeth
Dropping the kids at school
Sitting down at your desk to start your work
Making a cup of tea
Getting dressed
Getting undressed
Eating a meal
Feeding the dog
Going for a pee (!)
You get the idea, right?
🪞 Find something that you do automatically, that is already a habit and an integral part of your routine.
🏷️ Then .. tag a NEW habit onto a pre-existing habit or ritual. Our brain adores patterns. Repeat the patterns and they will become second nature.
🏋️ For example ... want to do 10 squats each morning? Usually start your day with a cuppa? Well why not tag those squats to that cuppa by doing them whilst the kettle boils!
🤏 Start small (you know how I love you to START SMALL!). Make it easy and manageable. Give that new, habit the chance to settle.
🧱 And then, you can further STACK THOSE HABITS. Start with one, add the next, when that becomes natural, add another.
James Clear, (I highly recommend his brilliant Atomic Habits book) states, quite simply, that the magic habit stacking formula is:
After/Before [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].
For example ....
💡 After I wake up, I will put on my work-out clothes.
💡 After I make my morning cuppa, I will do my work-out.
💡 Before I eat breakfast, I will write my to-do list for the day.
💡 After dinner, I will write my spend for the day.
The cool thing is that we all have habits and behaviours ALREADY BUILT INTO OUR BRAIN which have been strengthened over the years by repetition and practice.
And by linking a new habit to a pre-existing one, you will be MORE LIKELY TO STICK TO IT!
So, what FABULOUS HABITS are you keen to make STICK?
And what can you STACK them to?
And if you would like a FREE, non-obligation, 121 with Claire to chat about ways Mint Coaching can help YOU to create and maintain good habits, just click on the button below.