David D. Nowell, Ph.D.

www.DrNowell.com

David's Psychology Today blog

I'm always interested in free self-directed supports that I can pass on to my clients or to folks who make informal inquiry through my website. And "habit stacking" - creating a new relationship between an old established habit and a new target goal or habit - seems like just the sort of strategy that many of our clients could try out between coaching or therapy sessions, on their own.  

If you'd like to experiment with mindfulness, and you always brew morning coffee, your "habit stack" looks like this:  "When I start my coffee maker I will practice a mindfulness exercise for one minute." Even a Keurig takes a minute, right?

Stanford psychologist BJ Fogg's "Tiny Habits" approach suggests the new habit should be really easy to commit to - something like "When I brush my teeth, I will floss one tooth,"  or "When I watch The Daily Show I will do 5 push-ups."  

And Dr. Fogg offers a 5-day free email-based support program for goal-setting right here.  I've signed up to start the program myself next Monday so that when I direct people here I will have my own experience as a participant.  

What new habit could you or your clients establish that would make the biggest positive difference in quality of life?