Life Hack: Habit Stacking

Habit stacking is a simple yet powerful technique that can help you achieve your goals, both in your personal life and at work. Incorporating habit stacking into your daily routine can lead to a more productive, organized, and fulfilling life. So, what exactly is habit stacking?  

Distilled to its simplest explanation, "habit stacking" is taking a new habit and stacking it on top of an existing one. For example, if you want to read more books, you could stack that habit on top of your existing habit of drinking coffee (or tea) in the morning. After a while, when you drink your coffee, you'll naturally reach for your book—et voilà, you just created a new habit!

Habit stacking works because it takes advantage of the power of habits. We all know how difficult it can be to break a bad habit! Habits are actions that we do automatically without thinking, and they are formed by repeating a behavior over and over again. By stacking a new habit on top of an existing one, you are piggybacking on an existing habit (making it easier to form a new one). So whether you're having trouble remembering to do something small or you're resisting that thing you know you should be doing, think of habit stacking as a shortcut to forming good habits. 

At home, habit stacking can help you keep things tidy and stay on top of tasks. For example, we like to think of our Ferris ModStation as a wall-mounted habit stacker for going through mail that otherwise tends to pile up. This way when we step foot into the house and empty our pockets, the important mail is sorted into the mail catch while junk mail goes straight into the recycling bin. Bonus points for keeping our everyday items organized so we're ready to walk at the door tomorrow (and grab that Mother's Day card we don't want to forget to drop in the mail). 

At work, habit stacking can be especially beneficial. By incorporating new habits into your workday routine, you can improve your productivity and focus. For example, you could stack the habit of checking your emails at a specific time every day with the habit of taking a short walk outside. This can help you clear your mind and refocus before diving back into your work. 

In your personal life, habit stacking can help you achieve your goals and improve your well-being. For example, if you want to start drinking more water every day, you could stack that habit on top of grabbing your keys as you walk out the door. This way, every time you reach for your keys, you automatically grab your water bottle, too, making it the default to keep your water with you—helping you stick to your new habit of staying hydrated. 

At Distil Union, we believe that incorporating habit stacking into your daily routine can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling everyday life. By starting small and stacking one habit on top of another, you can gradually build a routine that supports your goals and values. With a little patience and consistency, you can create [good] habits that last a lifetime.