Inspired by James Clear’s “habit stacking” concept from his bestselling book Atomic Habits, adapted here for daily self-care habits and building a wellness routine you'll love... (and actually use!)!
You hear about another new, life-changing health hack. “If it’s working for everyone, it has to work for me too, right?”
So you buy it.
You use it for a few days, maybe a week, before it winds up on the shelf with all the other ‘good ideas’ that fizzled out.
Sound familiar?
Finding the right wellness support can be frustrating. But even when you find something that feels right, how do you actually turn it into a habit you’ll keep and, more importantly, one you’ll enjoy?
What Is Self-Care Stacking?
Always high on my list of recommended reading—especially if you feel like you just “aren’t the kind of person” who can stick with things—is James Clear’s Atomic Habits. I’m proud to say his research inspired what I like to call “Self-care Stacking.” But what is it?
James Clear wrote about how many human behaviors follow the cycle of deciding what to do next based on what they’ve just finished doing.
Like this: You get up to make lunch. Eating leads you to wash the dishes. Spotting the dirty kitchen towel reminds you it’s time to swap it out. See? One action triggers the next.
What does all this mean for building a wellness routine you love? Writing a list of healthy habits is a great start. But when those healthy habits remain in isolation, it can feel vague and easily slip through the cracks. If you say to yourself, “I’ll get that done at some point today,” it probably won’t happen. So what can you do?
Start by anchoring your new healthy habit to something in your life that is guaranteed, 100% going to happen!
How to Choose Your Anchor Habit
Make a list of all the things you do in a morning that are non-negotiables. They can be small and simple—in fact, those work best. Here are a few ideas:
- Wake up
- Make your bed
- Drink lemon water
- Write your to-do list
- Get the kids out of bed
- Brush your hair
- Pick out an outfit for the day
If you feel super groggy right when waking up, this might not be your best anchor habit. If getting the kids out of bed means the peaceful moments of the morning are long gone, skip that one too. The idea is to find an anchor habit—something you already do, guaranteed, every day—at a time when you can stack additional healthy habits to create your own mini self-care stack.
Remember: you can have a self-care stack at any time of day. It just needs to make sense for you. Here are a few examples:
If you feel anxious when you first wake up and want to try my Tranquil Embrace self-care stack, anchor it to a morning habit for the best start. Or maybe you're using Lullaby Skies for sleep. Stack that one onto a nighttime habit you already have, like after you wash the dishes from dinner.
Ready to see exactly what a self-care stack looks like in real life?
Step-by-Step: Building a Self-Care Stack for Better Sleep
Start with your anchor habit—let’s go with washing the dinner dishes again. Your Self-Care Stack could look like this:
If you want to dial up those sleep benefits even more, try the recommended Super-stack Hacks:
Super-stack Hack #1:
Lullaby Skies pairs beautifully with chamomile tea, which also helps calm the mind, soothe digestion, and signal it’s time to wind down. Steep a cup of chamomile tea in a mug you love, add a dropperful of Lullaby Skies, and welcome a more restful night’s sleep.
Super-stack Hack #2:
Try out my 5-minute Deep Sleep Tapping audio with relaxing frequencies layered in. If you struggle with insomnia or waking up during the night, this one’s for you!
Ready to Start Stacking?
Are you excited to build your own self-care stack and start loving the healthy life you’re creating?
- Choose your tincture below.
- Find your self-care stack on the product page for that tincture.
- Identify your anchor habit (a habit you already do every day, guaranteed).
- Try your new self-care stack.
- Make a promise to yourself: stick with it for the duration of your tincture so you experience the most benefit possible.
You’re doing amazing! I believe in you, and I believe in your ability to design not just a wellness routine, but a mind, body, and energy you love.
