Habit Stacking: 127 Small Actions That Take Five Minutes or Less

by S.J. Scott

The best way to build a habit stack is to combine actions related to what you want from life. In other words, it makes no sense to add random habits together that have no personal meaning. Instead, each must align with your goals. This will make it easier to stick with a new habit stacking routine.

1. Keystone Habits Keystone habits are a powerful concept that Charles Duhigg discussed in this book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Simply put, a keystone habit can have a positive impact on multiple areas of your life—even if you’re not intentionally trying to improve them.

There are many examples of great keystone habits that can include meditating, tracking your expenditures, planning your day, and scheduling regular meals with your family.

Question #4: “Isn’t this a robotic way to live your life?” No. Well, actually, it might feel that way at first. When you begin a new stack, you must rely on a checklist to remember each action because there is a finite amount of information that can be stored in your short-term memory. While you might feel silly moving from habit to habit using a checklist, you’ll eventually reach the point where each action becomes second nature. They will transition from “habit stacking routine” into a series of positive actions you complete each day, like flossing your teeth and eating healthy foods.