Time Management Tip: Habit Stacking

I LOVE learning about time management. Almost as much as I love sharing my favorite finds with you. A recent favorite came from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.

I present to you…Habit Stacking.

Habit stacking is right for you if you’ve been wanting to develop a new time management or other positive habit, but just can’t seem to make it stick. The practice is simply connecting a desired habit to an established habit. There is even a simple formula to help you implement this in your life.

After/Before [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].

Maybe you want to make a weekly planning sheet every Friday, but can’t seem to make headway on this desire. Tying it to a current habit will develop your intention into a new habit. For example: 

Before turning on my computer, I will complete my weekly planning sheet.
After filling my coffee cup, I will fill out my weekly planning sheet.
Before heading to lunch every Friday, I will ensure I have a plan for next week.

This simple concept is extremely effective because your current habits are already built into your brain, running whether you realize it or not. As a big believer in making things easier and more effective, I believe Habit Stacking can help anyone reach goals with limited effort. Give it a try! I'd love to hear what you are able to accomplish with this effective tip.