How To Use Habit Stacking for Multiple Passions Decisively

Jack of all trades, master of none. That’s pretty much what multitasking often does without us realizing it. We juggle multiple things at once – whether it’s learning a new language, mastering a musical instrument, or maybe trying a new fitness routine. In the end, we only find ourselves spreading thin and achieving little with all our creative multitasking strategies. 

But what if there was a way to turn the tables around? This is where you can use habit stacking for multiple passions to cater to different interests without disturbing the rhythm anywhere. Let’s understand how it can help you manage and grow your diverse interests effectively.

Why Use Habit Stacking for Multiple Passions?

When it comes to efficient habit stacking, one argument that may cross your mind is whether it can be applied to multiple passions. Can it actually be used for multitasking? This is where it gets necessary to understand the psychology involved. Let’s take a look at it!

The Psychology of Multitasking

Multitasking has always been a subject of psychological research, revealing interesting details about how our brain handles multiple tasks simultaneously. The theory of Task Switch Costs explains the psychology behind multitasking pretty well. It suggests that when you switch from one task to another, your brain needs to re-configure its resources to focus on the new task. This process, known as “task switching,” takes time and mental effort. 

Even though it might not take much time, these small delays eventually add up which makes you slower and more prone to mistakes. This is exactly why multitasking can reduce your productivity even though it feels like you are doing more. 

Juggling Multiple Creative Pursuits

Whenever you are multi-tasking, you are basically juggling between multiple tasks. When it comes to creative pursuits, juggling has a different impact on the brain. A 2022 study titled “The Effect of Juggling as Dual-Task Activity on Human Neuroplasticity” looked at 11 different research studies involving 400 participants. 

The researchers wanted to see how juggling affects the brain and to get a comprehensive outlook, the participants ranged from beginners to experts from different fields.

According to the findings, it was concluded that juggling led to significant positive changes in the brain structure. It increases the gray matter which is responsible for muscle control and sensory perception and the white matter which affects learning and brain functions.

So, what does this imply? It means that juggling between different passion projects can actually improve brain connectivity and functionality.

The study also found that while juggling, people engage in a series of coordinated actions, which is quite similar to managing multiple creative projects. These activities stimulate different parts of the brain and by repeatedly practicing these tasks, the brain forms behavioral chains for passion projects. These are sequences of behaviors where each action triggers the next which eventually leads to strategic habit formation. 

Successful Habit Stackers

On that note, let’s touch base on habit stacking – which makes managing multiple creative projects easier. It is a technique where you link a new habit to an existing one which makes it easier to remember and follow through with the new habit. Stacked habits for personal growth are particularly useful when you are juggling multiple tasks or creative projects because they help in building a routine and maintaining consistency. 

Michael Dadashi, the founder of Infinite Recovery Rehabilitation Centre, explains the importance of applying productivity tips in tracking progress in habit stacking. He suggests journalling to monitor his habits, which helps him stay motivated and accountable. By writing down his daily progress, he found that it is easier to see how far he has come which encourages him to keep going and make informed decision-making.

Preparing Your Habit Stacking Strategy

With that said, let’s take a look at how you can prepare your own habit stacking strategy:

1. Identify Existing Habits

   Start by identifying your current habits, basically the actions you do regularly without much thought. It can be checking your phone right after waking up or drinking morning coffee. When you have a clear idea, make a list of these existing habits as they will work like an anchor for your new habits. 

2. Create a Framework for New Habits

   Next, think about the new habits you want to develop but make sure they are specific and realistic. For example, instead of vaguely deciding to “exercise more,” try to specify that you will “do 10 push-ups after brushing your teeth.” This will help you get more clarity.

3. Choose the Right Habits to Stack

   Once you have your list ready, to the habits that are most important to you and prioritize them based on your goals. Let’s say you want to improve your health. To achieve this, you can decide to exercise daily or drink more water which can be at the top of your list.

4. Identify Compatible Habits

   Now, look for the existing habits that are compatible with your new habits. For example, if you want to start journaling, you can compare it with your morning routine, which is a key habit-stacking technique. 

5. Prioritize Habits Based on Goals

   Finally, prioritize your new habits based on what you want to achieve and start with the most important ones to focus on first. Since productivity and habit stacking usually go hand-in-hand, you might want to improve your productivity. Start by adding a quick review of your to-do list right after you finish your breakfast or lunch. This will help you set a productive tone for the entire day. 

Timing and Scheduling for Long-term Growth

At this point, one question that might cross your mind. You might wonder, how to look after schedule and time management for long-term growth If you’re working on habit stacking for multiple passions. Won’t it get too much to handle? Well, no actually. Let me tell you how.

Behavioral scientist Sekoul Krastev suggests reducing the “starting cost” of new habits by linking them with current ones. This eventually reduces the time you might need otherwise to learn it all over again. 

For example, if you plan to meditate and do push-ups, consider combining these activities into a single routine which will reduce the effort and time you would otherwise need. Once you make this practice a part of your daily life, you will be seamlessly able to set a daily routine for multiple goals without experiencing exhaustion in the long term. 

Sustaining Your Habit Stacks

Once you have applied your habit stacking techniques, you might probably struggle to maintain it in the long term. If that happens, please know that it’s totally fine. We all have been there at times, but there is always a way to make sure things don’t go wrong again. Here’s how you can practice implementing multiple habits to sustain them:

Continuous Improvement and Adaptation

To maintain success habits, try to regularly review and tweak your habit stacks to ensure they are still working for you. This will need you to be open to changing your habits as needed if you notice a particular habit isn’t fitting well into your routine anymore. If that happens, don’t be afraid to adjust or replace it.

Here you can apply the techniques suggested by Sekoul Krastev we previously discussed. It is extremely helpful in building consistent habits that not only go well with your preferences but don’t feel like a lot. 

Celebrating Milestones and Successes

Motivation will always play an important role no matter where you stand today or tomorrow. As a firm believer in the power of recognizing your achievements, I can vouch for the boost that celebrating your milestones gives to your self-esteem. 

Caroline Rubenstein, a licensed psychologist, suggests setting small, achievable goals and celebrating them to build momentum so that you can maintain motivation. Doing this will not only boost your morale but also keep you engaged in the process.

Overcoming Procrastination

One of the biggest challenges in sustaining habit stacks is avoiding procrastination. Yes, it can be a hurdle here too. To combat this, try not to overwhelm or confuse yourself by setting realistic goals because that can make a lot of mess.

You might think of fixing your entire life in a single day and end up doing absolutely nothing – something we all experience at a certain point. So, try to be as specific as possible so that you know what you want to achieve in a day, if not in a whole week or month yk!

Final Words

Multitasking is a word with a complex reputation. We often try to juggle multiple things at once but end up feeling overwhelmed. Habit stacking can be of immense help by assisting you with building new habits on top of old ones, and creating a smooth and productive routine. It reminds us that success comes from doing the right things consistently, not necessarily by doing everything at once. So, make sure to use habit stacking for multiple passions with the right strategy to grow your skills and enjoy your patience without worry!