Practicing small wins daily
- Start small and once you feel comfortable, ramp things up.
- Consistency is key, so do them daily.
- Same time and locations: you’re already trying to form a new behavior so keep the other variables constant.
- Insert them into a routine: a simple way to ensure you’ll practice your new habit.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
They make big goals seem manageable and achievable.
They also help you to move closer to where you want to be and a constant source of motivation.
Do this to ensure daily progress and motivation.
Because big goals can be demotivating: that burst of excitement at the beginning quickly wears off. Small wins keep your eyes on the process, not the result and help you see the progress you're making.
- They need little time: they have to be small and achievable in preferably under 10 minutes (more than that and you will start to lose motivation)
- They need little effort: they have to be so effortless, that you'll feel bad for not achieving them. The less effort you need to complete your small win the fewer excuses you’ll allow yourself
Procrastination boils down to getting started.
Small wins force you to get started, over and over again. Every day they will force you to get started on your new habit. And because it’s so small and so simple, you will.
To change your life, you need to change your habits. But developing habits is hard. Sometimes the change is too big and you lose your motivation.
So focus on micro changes. Aim to improve 1% every single day until it becomes a part of your routine.
RELATED IDEAS
- We tend to bite off more than we can chew, go too fast too soon, and then get overwhelmed too quickly.
- We’re conditioned these days to expect and receive instant gratification.
- We expect to get in shape very quickly, not remembering that it took us decades of unhealthy living to get where we are.
- We miss a workout because life gets busy.
They lock all of your other habits in place.
A person might start exercising once per week, and unknowing begins eating better and being more productive at work. All because she started exercising once per week.