🔁 Your habits aren’t sticking? Here’s why (and how to fix it)

This week: Make habits stick with this simple method

🧡 Hey friend,

How’s your week been? If I’m honest, mine’s been a little tough. My anxiety’s been higher than it has in a while, and I’ve had to work harder than usual to keep doing the things I know help me (and not do the things that feed my anxiety). It’s reminded me how important it is to stick to the simplest of my habits - even on the hard days - and so that’s what’s on my mind as a I write this message to you this week.

If you’re feeling the same, I get it. Sticking to helpful habits is hard, but I’ve found that small, simple shifts make all the difference when things get tricky.

This week, I’m sharing one of those shifts: habit stacking.

I’m also playing with the format of this newsletter again this week and making it a bit shorter, so let me know if you like it by pressing the 🧡 ‘like’ button or replying to this email.

Thank you, as always, for being here.

- Louise x

Photo by tyvanharenphotos on Canva

🛠 This week’s small step: Try habit stacking

Habit stacking is where instead of hoping you’ll remember a new habit, you attach it to something you already do. That way, it becomes second nature.

✅ After I [existing habit], I will [new habit].
👉 Example: After I make my morning coffee, I will take three deep breaths.

🔗 Want to know exactly why this works? Read more here about habit stacking or watch this video.

Try it today: Take just one small step and decide which habit you’d like to stack. Then hit reply and tell me in one sentence: What habit will you stack?

Photo by Iryna Imago from Getty Images

🛠 Ready to stick to your habits?

You don’t need more motivation - you need a system. That’s why I’ve built a new habit tracking tool inside the next release of WorryTree - so you can see your progress in real time.

Would this help you? Let me know.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Photo by Louise Stevenson

👥 Would an overthinking accountability group help you?

If you’re serious about building habits, the fastest way to succeed is by staying accountable.

I’ve been thinking about creating a small, private group here on Substack for people who want to stop overthinking, and stick to their habits and goals with support from like-minded people.

It wouldn’t be a therapy space - just a place to:
✅ Set and track small, achievable goals
✅ Stay accountable with check-ins
✅ Get motivation from a supportive group

It would be a low-cost, paid space, but before I set anything up here, I’d love to know if it’s something you’d be interested in.

Thank you for being part of our community - we’re so grateful to have you here. 🧡

If you’re struggling, please don’t struggle alone.

Know that asking for help is a sign of strength not of weakness. Contact someone you can trust like your Doctor, a friend or a relative, or text SHOUT to 85258 (UK) to start a conversation with a crisis support volunteer.