Habit Stacking: Start Healthy Habits with Help From Your Cat

I bet if you’re reading this, you’re a person who prioritizes your cat’s routine over your own, especially when things get crazy in life.

It’ll be your personal routine that will fall by the wayside, not your cat’s.

And I ain’t gonna argue with that!

I do that too - prioritize my cat’s care over my own. 

This is just how it is.

At least for many of us empaths and/or Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) who are also cat lovers on another level! 

Recently, I was getting a bit down on myself for not having taken a vitamin in three months. (I need a special B vitamin due to a gene mutation but that may be TMI.) It wasn’t just my vitamins, but also my afternoon fiber. And not only that, but also my morning strength training! Oh no! And because my morning strength training influenced my water intake, that, too, suffered. 

I felt like Charlie Brown!

"AAUGH!"

I was starting to feel the ill effects, physically and emotionally and it was time to get back on track.

But I was still struggling. It was frustrating!

Then suddenly, a cat angel appeared, descending from above, and whispered to me, “habit stacking."

Okay, no, not really, but I do believe that my angel soul cat, Cumin, does assist me from across the Rainbow Bridge.

I learned about habit stacking years ago and have used it with great success!

Habit stacking is a way to make new habits stick by tacking them on to currently established ones.

This makes it easier for your brain to adopt the new habit, because the existing one is a reliable trigger.

Habit stacking also works because it reduces decision fatigue - when am I going to do the new thing? Already decided!

And habit stacking builds momentum for flow, by being added to something already in motion!

Habit stacking was not created with our cats in mind, but because my entire personal routine had been turned over due to some life events, I didn’t have many solid existing anchors. I felt unmoored.

Then I realized that my cat’s routine remained beautifully intact! 

So here’s what I did...

I created a list of new habits I needed to establish or get back to doing.

For me, the list was long but starting small is the way to go (see below!) because as you create habits that stick, you can always stack on more. So I decided to start with fiber and water intake.

Next, I assessed Bear's routine and looked where I could stack the new habits I wanted to create. I decided to tack on my fiber intake with Bear’s daily coconut oil snack; and for my water intake, I decided to add this to Bear’s meals.

It looked something like this (below).

Bear’s general routine is here so I can see other places where I can stack in the future, once these two habits stick!

Bear's Routine

• 4am - Bear flower essences & brushing
• 4:15am - Bear breakfast/Siena water
• 5am - Bear cuddles & connection
• 8am - Bear snack/Siena water
• 10am - Bear exercise & play
• 2pm - Bear coconut oil/Siena fiber
• 4pm - Bear dinner/Siena water
• 5pm - Bear cuddles & connection
• 6:45pm - Bear quick play
• 7pm - Bear snack/Siena water

Tips to Make Habit Stacking Stick

1. Start small. Stack just 1-2 new habits vs. doing a big overhaul.
2. Make sure the frequencies are matched. Pair a new daily habit with an existing daily habit. Don't pair a new 3x per week habit with an existing daily one; if you do, you’ll have the decision fatigue since you'll have to track if this is the day for the stack or not.
3. If the habit is something you don’t love doing, like a chore, pair with your favorite part of your cat’s routine. If you love to play with your cat, then stack it on before, and have the play as your reward.

Caring for ourselves is foundational, if we want to be able to truly care for others.

And so if you're feeling overwhelmed, finding it hard to stick to or start new habits, I hope this has been helpful. Feel free to share this with anyone who is struggling too!

P.S. What might also be helpful is our Self-Love blend. Check it out here.