It’s no secret I’m more than a little skeptical of many social media wellness trends, from at-home Ozempic dupes to mouth taping. So when I come across one I actually can stand behind, I want to share it with as many people as I can. Such is the case with habit stacking, a productivity hack that I’ve actually managed to implement into my daily routine and stick with. Habit stacking is essentially attaching a new habit to tasks you already engage in consistently to make it more likely you’ll stick with it. (While the concept isn’t new, the term was coined by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones.) Here’s how to incorporate habit stacking into your routine.
Habit Stacking Just Might Be the Secret to Achieving Your 2025 Goals
I tried it and you should too
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Published Mar 13, 2025
Paula Boudes for PureWow
To start, think about a habit you’re hoping to adopt. This can be anything from reading a chapter of your book a day to emptying the dishwasher before bed. Now, consider your current routines and figure out where your new habit will fit best within your existing ones. For example, if you’re hoping to stay moisturized, maybe try moving your moisturizer into the shower so it’s part of a routine you’re already doing. From there, just go for it.
If you need more inspiration, here are a few ways I’ve stacked habits:
- I decided I wanted to start practicing gratitude more tangibly. I then thought about my morning routine (waking up, brushing my teeth, showering, etc.), so now while I wait for my shower to warm up, I jot down notes in my gratitude journal.
- I also wanted to commit to stretching more, so on days when I’m working from home (most days), I close my laptop once I’m done with work and immediately do a 10-minute stretching video on YouTube.
The beauty of habit stacking—and why I think it’s one of the most accessible wellness trends bubbling up right now—is that it’s entirely customizable to your wants and needs. Are you someone who wants to be better about calling your long-distance best fried? Great, make it a habit to give her a call during your dog’s afternoon walk (a task you have to do anyway). Did you make it a goal to eat two Brazil nuts a day for an easy boost of protein, healthy fats and fiber? Go ahead and snack on those while your coffee brews in the morning. The habits you choose to stack are completely up to you.
My only caveats are that, to give yourself the best chance of success, you shouldn’t shoot too high when you’re first getting started (“I’m going to run a 10k every morning), and your new goals shouldn’t be too vague (“Clean more”).
Finally, remember that habits don’t form overnight. Just because it’s been two weeks and your morning journaling still doesn’t feel like second nature, don’t throw in the towel. Patience is a virtue, after all, no matter how much I you might wish it wasn’t.
