Toolkit Series: Why Habit Stacking Works (And How to Start Today)

Ever feel like your days are packed but still don’t feel purposeful? Like you’re running on autopilot, but not in the ways that actually matter? This mini-episode of the New Modern Mom Podcast Toolkit Series is here to change that.

Host, Barbara Mighdoll, introduces you to habit stacking, a simple yet powerful strategy for aligning your daily actions with the life you actually want. Instead of piling on new to-dos or forcing yourself into rigid routines, habit stacking shows you how to pair small intentional habits with things you already do. The result? Less decision fatigue, more flow, and a greater sense of calm in the chaos of working motherhood.

What makes this episode unique is Barbara’s reframing of habit stacking: not as a productivity hack, but as a lifestyle design tool. She shares candid examples from her own life, like stretching while brushing her teeth or pairing a money check-in with a date night. She proves that habits can feel natural and enjoyable, not like one more thing on your list. This is the episode you’ll want to return to whenever you feel like your days are running you instead of the other way around.

What you’ll learn: 

✨ The science behind habit stacking — What research really says about how long it takes to form habits and why stacking them onto existing routines makes them stick.

🦷 Real-life examples of habit stacking — From brushing your teeth and stretching at night, to pairing workouts with podcasts, to using school drop-off as a cue to connect with friends.

💡 Why habit stacking isn’t about doing more — It’s a mindset shift that makes habits the building blocks of the life you’re designing, instead of chores on a checklist.

🧘 How habit stacking reduces decision fatigue — Fewer decisions, more flow. Free up mental space for the things that matter most.

📓 A practical exercise for working moms — Reverse-engineer your routines by asking how you want to feel at the end of the day, then pair small habits to get there.

By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a toolkit for creating micro-moments of alignment without overhauling your entire schedule.

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to feel calmer, more accomplished, or more connected, but I just don’t have the time,” this episode will shift your perspective. Because the truth is: you don’t need more time, you just need smarter stacks.

Especially helpful for moms searching for:

→ How to design daily routines that align with the life you want

→ Practical habit hacks to feel calmer, more connected, and more accomplished

→ How to build lasting habits without adding more to your plate

→ Simple real-life examples of habit stacking for busy moms

→ Ways to reduce decision fatigue and feel more in control

Follow Barbara Mighdoll:

• On Instagram here
• Subscribe to Barbara’s newsletter here

About New Modern Mom: You know the dream of having it all – a thriving career, an active social life, present time with your kids, and adventures in travel. But how the F can we actually do it all? Host Barbara Mighdoll chats with other working mom executives on the raw truth behind their support systems, self-identity shifts, productivity, infertility and pregnancy loss, mom guilt, partner dynamics, childcare and even imposter syndrome. We’re exploring how these incredible women are translating their professional superpowers into their personal lives. Because we believe you can have it all, you just cannot do it all. Together, we’re building the playbook for the new modern mom.

The New Modern Mom Podcast is produced by Barbara Mighdoll, Ali Alquiza, and Em Roberts.