The Importance of Small Wins
I recently recorded a podcast about the importance of small wins.
We often skip tracking small wins because they seem silly or insignificant (breaking down and putting a pile of boxes in the recycling or hanging a picture on the wall could be considered a small win. As could doing the exercise you committed to this week).
First, small wins are important because they help you have integrity with yourself. When you do the thing you told yourself you'd do, you build trust in your own commitments. How would you feel if a friend constantly broke commitment to you? Probably not very good… so why do we so readily break them with ourselves? If you're a questioner or upholder, maybe it's easier to keep commitments to yourself. Most people are obligers (need external accountability), so don't beat yourself if you struggle with this. Listen to this podcast with Gretchen Rubin and The Four Tendencies for some strategies.
Small wins, even ones that seem small and silly are important because they clear up mental clutter. Every time you see that thing you said you were going to do, it takes up space in your mind. Once it's done, you have more real estate to focus on other things. It also impacts your mood and energy when you notice or track that thing you said you'd do.
Small wins are some of the data points on your process trajectory. We often are going for some big shiny goal, but it's the small wins (and wiggles) that bring meaning to the journey. Tracking them is an important part of the process.
Tracking small wins are essential for momentum, building confidence, and noticing keystone habits.