Habit stacking: make the helpful choice easier to repeat
A lot of us say we need more time.
More time to walk. More time to stretch. More time to drink enough water, eat properly, sleep and strength train.
But life rarely clears a convenient space for a total overhaul.
That is why I like habit stacking: attaching a small new action to something you already do.
For example:
• After I make my morning tea, I drink a glass of water.
• After lunch, I walk for ten minutes.
• While the kettle boils, I do a few simple strength moves.
• After I brush my teeth, I practise my balance.
• When I put my phone on charge at night, I stop scrolling.
The important bit is to make the new habit small enough that it does not require a negotiation every time.
If your plan is too ambitious, a difficult day can knock the whole thing over. A tiny habit is easier to continue when work runs late, the weather is awful or you simply cannot be bothered.
Small does not mean ineffective. Small means repeatable.
And repetition gives you evidence that you are a person who follows through.
So forget the life overhaul for a moment.
You can see the same compound-effect idea in what a daily walk can add up to over a year, and it is part of how I think about your future self.
What is one useful habit you could attach to something you already do today?
Fancy getting out of your own head for a bit?
Sometimes the easiest way to start is simply to have somewhere to go. Come and join Linnie for a walk.