This month we celebrated the Coronation of King Charles III. A moment in our history that doesn’t happen very often, where the whole of the UK could come together to watch and celebrate this special occasion. And it made me think of the importance of celebrating our own special achievements – especially the small ones.
Small wins are the incremental steps we take towards our bigger goals, and they can be just as important as the end goal itself. They give us a sense of progress, boost our confidence and motivation, and help us maintain momentum towards our ultimate objective.
If you are wanting to lose 20lbs, the final destination may seem a long way off and quite slow progress BUT if you are steadily losing a pound or two every week then that in itself is a fantastic achievement as you work your way to your end goal.
BUT WHAT IF YOU FEEL YOU AREN’T ACHIEVING ANYTHING?
If you feel you are struggling to achieve anything worthy of celebrating, and this can often be the case when you are going through depression or feeling overwhelmed or anxious, then break down your small wins even more.
Think of the things you have already achieved today, they don’t have to be anything major, just regular day to day things that we sometimes take for granted that we should be able to achieve. The main aspect to consider is acknowledging these as victories, no matter how small they may seem in the moment.
small daily wins
Making your bed
Getting ready for the day
Remembering to eat
Going to work
Completing one task
Taking a second to meditate
Going outside for some fresh air
Completing any kind of workout no matter how easy / difficult
Talking to someone about how you are feeling
Reading a few pages of a book or magazine or listening to a podcast
Doing your recycling
Cleaning the kitchen / doing the washing up / unloading the dishwasher
Putting some washing on / doing the ironing / putting it away (!)
Connecting with a friend or family member
Decreasing your screen time even just by a few minutes
Making and checking off your daily to-do list
Drinking enough water
Getting up earlier
Helping someone else with a minor task
Making a meal plan for the week
Eating something healthy
It is so important that we take our mental health journeys one day at a time. If we think of how much work needs to be done, it can sometimes feel overwhelming and cause us to backtrack.
KEEP A POSITIVITY DIARY
When clients come and see me I always ask them to keep a very simple diary of their best bits of the day. Just in bullet form – really simple, like the list above. I ask them to write down what went well that day, what they achieved or what was a nice moment in their day. This is to train their mind to find the positives even when things feel tough. There is ALWAYS something to be positive or grateful for. Always!
The small victories are what keep us motivated to tackle the larger ones. By celebrating small wins, we reinforce positive habits and behaviours that lead to success. We create a positive feedback loop that encourages us to continue working towards our goals. We also cultivate a growth mindset, which acknowledges that success is not always about achieving big milestones but is often about making progress every day.
5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE SMALL WINS:
Treat yourself to something you enjoy
After achieving a small win, reward yourself with something that brings you joy. This could be enjoying your favorite meal, watching a movie, or buying a small gift for yourself.
Share your success with others
Share your small win with friends, family, or colleagues who can celebrate with you. Their congratulations and encouragement will help you feel acknowledged, appreciated and motivated to do more.
Take a break
Celebrate your small win by taking a break from your work or routine. Go for a walk, spend time outdoors, or simply take a nap. Giving yourself a break can help you recharge and come back to your work with renewed energy.
Reflect on your progress
Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come and the progress you’ve made towards your larger goals. This reflection can help you stay motivated and focused on the bigger picture.
Set new goals:
Celebrating a small win can also be an opportunity to set new goals or adjust your existing ones. Use your small win as a stepping stone towards bigger accomplishments, and set new goals that build on your progress.
So, let’s celebrate every step of the journey, no matter how small, and keep moving forward towards our dreams and our goals..