Do you hate waiting in a car line with your foot on the brake, wishing the window attendant would grow more arms and legs?
What a bumper bummer!
You tell yourself to ‘RE-EEE-LAX.’
The engine does not mind sucking up gas in a bumper-to-bumper standstill. But this waiting, which is sucking up your time like a vacuum, is the pits!
How can you make the turtle or snail-creep bearable?
Try habit stacking.
What is habit stacking?
Habit stacking is intentionally pairing an activity with a current habit to create new productive habits or second-nature routines.
One productive habit to stack while waiting is reading. Expect the wait; keep something to read in the car.
I see many people reading in their cars while waiting for the last school bell to ring and for their kids to be released.
Many of us find it challenging to begin and maintain certain habits that could be beneficial. We all know how easy it is to make and start different resolutions. However, turning them into habits isn’t easy, especially resolutions that involve exercise, healthy eating, and other self-care challenges.
I recently tried incorporating a couple of stretches before bed. The good, bad, and ugly is that I did them some nights, but not every night.
Some nights I forgot to stretch because the need to go to bed was greater than the need to stretch. Stretching before bed wasn’t a good habit-stacking pairing.
For habit stacking to work, the habitual activity must trigger or evoke the activity one tries to add.
Perhaps I can stretch or run in place while brushing my teeth. Nope, I don’t think this would work.
For those who want or need to drink more water, drinking a glass of water after brushing one’s teeth sounds like a stackable idea.
Habit stacking connects or stacks a specific behavior to a habitual or existing must-do activity. Most people brush their teeth at least twice a day, without fail.
What interest or action would you connect to this habitual function?
Is waiting for things and people an activity? Sure, it is. Waiting and patience are skills we all must learn and do.
Idle time can give you time to fill in the boring wait with something you need or select to do.
Keep a Bible, novel, journal, puzzle, or any other time-passing item in your vehicle or purse.
Waiting is a great time to balance your checkbook, write in your journal, read the Sunday school lesson, a newspaper, or make a to-do list.
Waiting is not so bad when you have something to do.
I take an e-reader or a book when I go to the pharmacy or an appointment.
We can all benefit from habit-stacking.
Because of habit stacking, I drink more water and read more.
Like our parents and teachers said, “Practice makes perfect.” Practice is repetition; interest and repetition help create habits.
What about the hand-washing habit we added due to the pandemic?
Many people still wash their hands when they enter their house after grocery shopping or out in public.
What can you squeeze in, attach, or connect to a routine or habitual activity that will help your self-care?
Happy habit stacking!
I hope you are happy and well.
Be well.