Redheaded Jill

I’m not sure which self help book mentions habit stacking, but it is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

I like to do certain things at certain times for productivity’s sake. I respond to voice memos and marco polos when I’m in the car. I listen to podcasts or self help books when doing chores or going for walks. The problem with this is I no longer have time to enjoy the silence. To sit and just be without outside forces stimulating my brain or entertaining me.

The only thing I can imagine being more peaceful than a silent walk through nature is a prayerful one. I am going to start habit stacking, but with Biblical things in mind.

One thing I’m going to do is fast, but during my fast I’m going to pray and study the Bible. Maybe not all day, but for a set period of time. I will put my phone away and not have music playing, even quiet lofi background noise music.

Another thing I have been doing is using my drive time for prayer. Sometimes I even use landmarks or triggers to remind me to pray for certain things. If a friend is having a rough day I will say a quick prayer for them every time I take a sip of water, or every time I reach for my phone. (That means dozens of prayers daily!) I also like the idea of not doing something for entertainment until I’ve said my prayers or done my reading.

Because I am someone who gets bored easily I have to keep things moving. I can’t have the exact same routine every day or I will quit. So one day, on a walk I will use that time (at least the first portion of it) to talk to God. Another day I will not check social media or respond to texts until I have said my prayers/done my reading. Sometimes the inspiration strikes at night, so I won’t go get in bed until I’ve gone through my prayer list. (If I try to pray in bed I usually fall asleep or my mind wanders.)

My hope is that these helpful habit stacking tricks will train me to naturally reach for my Bible before instagram.

In what way do you stack your habits?