Getting motivated to achieve a goal is hard enough, but keeping up with that motivation is even more challenging. It requires that you recognize the small wins along the way, not just the big ones. These micro-goals help to lubricate the progress loop that keeps you motivated and on track toward your bigger goal. This strategy is especially important for those whose goals are complex or difficult to measure, such as a personal health or fitness goal.
Small Wins: A Definition
A small win is a victory or success, no matter how tiny. It could be as simple as waking up five minutes earlier in the morning to get to work on time, or it might be as significant as committing to an annual charity donation. It’s something that you can celebrate with a small reward (like a star on the calendar or a treat for yourself), and it’s something that helps to keep you motivated on your journey toward achieving your larger goals.
According to research from the Harvard Business Review, small wins are the backbone of motivation. They fuel our inner lives by demonstrating that we are consistently making progress, which in turn creates a positive self-image. Small wins are also a critical part of the self-determination theory, which is a model that explains what motivates us to do things. The three elements of this theory are autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and focusing on small wins supports each of these.
Small wins are more than just a great way to maintain your motivation; they’re also the key to accomplishing bigger, more complicated goals. They provide a path for us to succeed when life throws us a curveball. For example, if you set out to climb a large mountain but have to divert your attention and resources to handle an unexpected emergency, the large goal may feel unattainable. However, if you have been tracking small victories along the way, the change in scenery will still allow you to see the big picture and not feel like you’ve completely failed.
Moreover, small wins often lead to a snowball effect in which they make the next solvable problem easier to find. This is because they can provide a comprehensible pattern of progress, instill the perception that we have some control over events, and encourage us to challenge ourselves by increasing our repertory of skills.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting for the big win, and as a result missing out on small victories. To avoid this, it’s important to track your small wins and celebrate them regularly. This will help you stay motivated on your journey toward your bigger goal and give you the confidence to believe that you will actually reach it. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as by setting reminders on your phone, writing them down in a journal, or sharing your successes with others to double the pleasure. It’s also a good idea to reward yourself for every small win, as it can increase the enjoyment and build the habit.