Celebrate the small wins

When you are focussed on a particular goal it is inevitable you'll hit some hurdles on the way, you then begin to feel de-motivated and that goal seems to creep further and further away. This is exactly why it's important to celebrate each and every "small" achievement.

My first ever 10km race

What is a small win?

A small win is an achievement that aligns with your main focus. For example lets say your main focus is to lose a stone. Losing a pound would be a win you can celebrate. Or maybe your goal is couch to 5k and you have managed your first run, this would be another win you could celebrate.

Why it's so important to celebrate the small wins...

The key to reaching a goal is understanding that it won't happen overnight. Its probably going to take a bit of time and definitely a lot of effort to achieve.

In reality its series of smaller steps linked together that gets us to our main goal. This is why it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate small wins. This keeps our motivation high and on the right path.

Boosting your energy...

Similar to keeping you motivated acknowledging your wins gives you a boost of energy, think about it like this - you are tired and cant be bothered going to the gym but you think about last week when you felt the same but you went, and hit a new PR. This small boost of energy helps you get through a particular situation and closer to your goal.

This becomes a positive loop. You accomplish something, celebrate, increase your energy to accomplish more, and repeat.

My first marathon

Track your progress...

The lack of motivation that inevitably kicks in also comes when you feel like your goal is too far away, some may say unachievable. This is when it can be effective to revisit the journey so far and understand just how far you have come. (celebrating the small wins again.)

How to...

Break your goals down -

Establish what your goal is and then break into down into smaller manageable targets. Think about how long that goal may take to achieve and fill the gaps with a smaller goal you can focus your energy on.

Reward yourself -

If you have completed a task or achieved something that takes you closer to your goal give yourself a reward. Having something to look forward to helps boost motivation and an increase in the feel good chemicals.

Marathon no.4

Track your progress -

Tracking your progress will remind you of how far you’ve come. Physically write them down or at least acknowledge all the small wins. When motivation is low you can refer back to this , knowing you are on your way to success will keep you on track.

Learning how to celebrate the small wins is key to ensuring you stay on track with your goals. Each time you mark off a milestone, find a way to celebrate, enjoy the success and then begin focussing on the next one. Before you know it you'll be celebrating the main focus!

Jack Duncan

20.01.23