The "New" Trend You’ve Probably Been Doing for Years
Have you ever stumbled across a buzzword and thought, "Wait a second, I’ve been doing that all along—I just didn’t know it had a name"? That’s exactly how I felt when I started hearing influencers talk about "habit stacking" like it was the latest life-changing concept.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, habit stacking is the practice of pairing a new habit with an existing one to make the new habit easier to stick with. The idea is that by linking the two, the established habit acts as a trigger for the new one. For example, if you’re already in the habit of brewing coffee every morning, you might use that time to jot down a gratitude list or prep your to-do list for the day. Essentially, you’re stacking a productive activity onto something you’re already doing.
Sound familiar? It should! While influencers are marketing this concept as revolutionary, many of us have been habit-stacking long before it had a trendy name. For years, I’ve paired activities to streamline my mornings or keep my day running smoothly. Folding laundry while catching up on a podcast? Habit stacking. Doing squats while brushing my teeth? Habit stacking. Prepping veggies for the week while chatting with a friend on speakerphone? You guessed it—habit stacking.
Why is this suddenly everywhere, then? It’s not that the concept is new, but people are becoming more aware of how powerful it can be. Popular books like Atomic Habits by James Clear have brought habit stacking into the spotlight, making it a buzzworthy topic across social media. And while I might roll my eyes a bit at the "newness" of it all, I can’t deny that having a name for this practice has given me a new way to think about and refine my routines.
So, if you’re like me and you’ve been quietly habit-stacking all these years, take a moment to give yourself some credit. You’re ahead of the game! And if you haven’t tried it yet, now’s the perfect time to start. Look for those small pockets in your day where you can link habits—big or small—to maximize your time and energy.
The best part? Habit stacking is completely customizable. Whether you’re trying to drink more water, get more movement into your day, or carve out time for self-care, pairing those new habits with existing ones can help make them stick.
So go ahead and lean into this "trend."
Be happy, healthy, and safe!
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