In reading ”Atomic Habits” (highly recommended), I saw this great piece of advice.
When it comes to building new habits, you can use the connectedness of behavior to your advantage. One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called Habit Stacking.
I think that this is a brilliant strategy. I had the habit of waking up early. I added Priming onto that habit. Priming is a routine to start the day and might include physical movement, affirmations, meditation, etc.,
So I added some physical movement to get the blood flowing – a martial art exercise whereby I do back to front switches of a stance with a resistance band around my legs. Then I do a form with an Affirmation. And then three more Affirmations which I keep refining.
Habit Stacking means that a person takes a single good CURRENT habit and add your new habit next right next to it. For example, I get up early + Add priming. After getting a cup of coffee in the morning, then I would do meditation. So Linking the two habits is key.
Habits Stacking uses a specific formula too which is Cue>Craving (Desire) > Response> Reward.
The initial Cue is Your Existing Habit. When you see stairs, then it might Cue you to walk up them instead of taking the Elevator.