It’s about that time most people give up on their New Year’s goals because they don’t see the progress they want to see. In this Magic Monday, we share four ways to celebrate small victories and stay motivated to achieve those larger accomplishments.
The new year often starts off full of promise and motivation as we set ambitious goals and resolutions. However, as January turns to February and the daily grind sets in, that initial excitement can start to wane. This is why it’s so important to celebrate accomplishments along the way – no matter how small – to keep the momentum going.
Often, the hard work that goes into achieving a meaningful personal or professional milestone fills us with joy and reminds us of the long path we took to reach our goal.
But this doesn’t mean we should neglect celebrating the small steps along the way.
Productivity and lifestyle blog Lifehack delves a bit deeper into this topic here. In it, Lifehack Founder and CEO Leon Ho describes the “why” behind celebrating these small victories – and how to do so. We summarize four main areas of his observations below:
1. Boost Energy
Low energy = low motivation. Small wins – like a meeting where you addressed all agenda items or you made significant progress toward a larger goal – are worth recognizing. Intentionally creating smaller, achievable goals can be a good tactic to help boost energy toward achieving those larger milestones.
2. Track Progress
Acknowledging small steps taken along the way helps to remind us how far we’ve come and provides a reason to continue. Writing down small victories along the way so we physically see them can be its own reward. Growth is a process. Recognize and respect that the process doesn’t happen all at once.
3. Embrace Positive Emotions
Celebrating is one way of showing gratitude. Gratitude and pride for what has been accomplished. Those brief moments to appreciate and recognize even little achievements will ultimately lead to greater overall happiness.
4. Find Personal Motivation
It can sometimes feel easier to celebrate other’s accomplishments rather than our own. But when we take the time to value and recognize our own contributions, we’re telling ourselves, “You’re worth it.” You can highlight this by rewarding yourself with a favorite indulgence or even a small trip somewhere. You don’t have to wait for anyone else to define your value. You already know.
Find ways to celebrate yourself and others this week and recognize small victories along the way. As February approaches, take stock of micro-wins. Note small steps forward, thank yourself, and share your journey with others. While it may seem insignificant when it’s just a drop at a time, each of those drops eventually fills an entire bucket. Progress compounds when consistently recognized. Before you know it, those tiny triumphs accumulate into something great. Let’s keep celebrating together!
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