Why Small Wins Matter More Than Big Motivational Bursts
We all set goals for - and plan for these big BIG changes and transformations. BUT when we look at the biggest game changers in this journey, it’s the little wins.
They may not be as exciting - they aren’t dramatic, they don’t give off that “new year, new me” energy, they aren’t the new shiny thing that you might tell people about or really even be proud of in the moment. These little wins are not necessarily the weeks where everything magically clicks into place and you feel like the most disciplined person alive. They aren’t the ones that FEEL like you are really stepping into that new version of you. lol. (I know - I’m really selling it here).
The little wins are the quiet things.
The Thursday you pack your lunch for work even though it’s a hard week and a quick SweetGreens salad just sounds easy and delicious.
The night you go to bed 30 minutes earlier instead of staying up for “just one more episode”.
The workout you followed through with even when everything inside you was screaming to “JUST SKIP IT”.
The night you went out with friends and decided to be the DD and skip alcohol - which led to not snacking on everything in sight.
Things like these don’t feel revolutionary in the moment. They don’t get applause. They are barely even acknowledged as a win.
But psychologically? They’re doing something so so powerful.
They’re building evidence.
CONFIDENCE is build through EVIDENCE…NOT motivation.
And that my friends…is where most of us miss the boat. We sit here waiting to feel “motivated” to start showing up consistently. But…and I feel like a broken record, because I say it all the time, motivation usually shows up AFTER action - not before. The proof that we can DO it, the EVIDENCE is what actually builds confidence. It’s proof that you can and WILL follow through. Proof that you can keep a promise to yourself. Proof that even on a busy/stressful/chaotic/hormonal/emotional day, you are capable of making at least ONE supportive decision for yourself.
And every one of those small wins adds another piece of evidence to your story - and in time - the more we recognize these small wins, the more we see value in them, they become building blocks and evidence to your story - and eventually, your brain starts to believe it. That “THIS IS JUST WHAT WE DO NOW”.
The psychology of momentum
This is the part where we bring in the concept of self-efficacy. Which is potentially the most powerful skill you can develop.
It’s basically your belief in your own ability to follow through. And the number one way to build self-efficacy is through small, repeatable wins. Not through massive overhauls, or punishing, grueling routines, it’s not trying to become an entirely different person overnight. Just putting the reps in time and again. And every time you show up for yourself - no matter how imperfectly - you strengthen that belief. That is how momentum works.
The trap of "waiting for the perfect week"
So many people (myself included in the past…and maybe you…) have fallen into the trap of assuming that the progress is not starting because their life is not exactly lined up. That the REAL progress will start when life finally calms down. When work isn’t as stressful, when the kids aren’t sick, when the house is organized, when you can actually see the end of your to-do list.
BUT WHEN…REALLY. WHEN HAS LIFE EVER GIVEN YOU THAT PERFECT WINDOW?? WHEN? Because I’ve never had that window - I’ve never heard of ANYONE having that window for more than a couple of days. Certainly not long enough to make life transformations that can be sustained longterm.
So we don’t wait. We accept that life is not the calm that we have in our heads - but the reality that we live in. The slightly messy, busy, sometimes unpredictable life - and when we build lasting habits for THAT life, instead of waiting for the calm or perfect week - then we are planning for our reality - which allows us to stick with it.
What this might look like in real life
Instead of asking yourself: "How would I change everything to be the healthy version of me that is crushing it"
Try asking:
What is one small win I can collect today?
Maybe it’s:
Setting a basic breakfast, high in protein you can repeat. Drinking water before coffee. Walking for ten minutes while scrolling IG instead of sitting on the couch. Stopping work a little earlier so you can breathe. Waking up 30 minutes earlier to get a workout in before work starts.
None of those things will change your life overnight. But doing them repeatedly is truly where the change happens.
This is your reminder…
It’s not about being perfect - and you don’t need any dramatic reset of any kind. You need to look at your life - RIGHT NOW - and start collecting small wins that are manageable in your life now - that ALSO help you start to see that next version of you start peeking through.
Because every one of those moments is quietly reinforcing a new identity. Someone who takes care of themselves, someone who follows through, someone who keeps showing up. And over time, that identity becomes your new normal.
If you want support building those small wins into real routines and learning how to make them stick even when life gets busy, that is exactly what I work on with my clients every week - and clicking the button below starts that support for you too.