Habit Stacking: Simplify and Enhance Your Morning Routine

by Lynn McGill

December 4, 2024

Person stacking rocks on top of one another in front of a pink and red leave background
Lynn McGill

A solid morning routine sets the tone for a productive and positive day. However, an overly long or complicated routine can feel daunting and unsustainable. To streamline your mornings while still meeting your health and wellness goals, try habit stacking—a simple yet effective strategy to pair complementary habits and achieve more in less time. 

Habit stacking involves combining two or more activities into one cohesive routine, allowing you to accomplish multiple goals simultaneously. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—but with habits! You can also implement new habits into your routine by adding them to your existing habits. This will help you build new habits a lot more easily.  

Examples:  

  1. Morning Walk + Podcast or Audiobook 
    Get your steps in while enjoying your favorite podcast or audiobook. This not only boosts physical activity but also engages your mind and keeps you entertained. 

  2. Stretching + Breathwork 
    Pair gentle stretching with focused breathing exercises. These practices complement each other beautifully, helping you relax, improve flexibility, and connect with your body. 

This works by combining and adding new habits to your original ones, you simplify your routine, save time, and make your mornings more enjoyable while also creating new habits. In today’s fast-paced world, we’re all looking for ways to do more with less effort, and habit stacking is the perfect solution.  

Incorporating habit stacking into your routine can transform your mornings, making them both efficient and fulfilling. Start small, experiment with combinations that work for you, and watch how this practice simplifies your life. 

Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 2). Everything you need to know about habit stacking for self-improvement. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/habit-stacking