The Power of Small Wins
Milestones like buying a house or starting a business are amazing achievements. But it's the small wins — the often-unnoticed victories where the transformational power lies.
Sometimes when we see our goals as too big or too far in the future, it can overstimulate our brains, causing us to feel defeated, because we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. By focusing on specific, smaller wins, we not only make the progress that gets us to those big goals, but also build on their success.
The mood boosts we get from day-to-day achievements have a cumulative, long-lasting effect. Here’s how to start recognizing and celebrating these small wins to mark your progress and make your days happier.
What Small Wins Can Look Like
A small win is any consistent achievement. There's nothing too small to count — any progress is worth celebrating. Small wins are personal and vary depending on your financial situation or stage in life. They can be easier to identify as smaller parts of a bigger goal. Think of them as the building blocks of your larger goals. Here are some examples:
If your bigger goal is: Building an emergency fund
Decide on a spending plan that includes room for saving.
Examine your values to make that spending plan easier to follow.
Set up automated savings towards your goal.
Align spending decisions with your plan.
Adjust your plan as needed when life gets in the way.
If your bigger goal is: Better money communication with your partner/children
Establish a consistent time and date for Money Dates.
Outline key topics to discuss beforehand.
Acknowledge the different priorities you may each have.
Define specific, attainable larger financial goals together.
Encourage honest, respectful, and open discussions about money and financial priorities.
If your bigger goal is: Freedom from debt
Choose a debt payoff method (the avalanche method saves more interest, while the snowball method focuses on small wins).
Make an extra payment above the minimum each month by increasing the minimum you pay.
Commit to not incurring any new debt.
Automate all of your debt payments so you never miss a payment.
Reallocate the money from a paid-off debt to the next debt and celebrate each step.
How to Make the Most of Small Wins
On their own, small wins might seem routine or mundane. But to tap into their bigger power, recognize why they matter — and celebrate them as they happen.
Some ways to do that:
Keep a running to-do list for the small wins you want to achieve. Adding small tasks to the list keeps your momentum going.
Keep a record of your wins to reflect on your achievements. This can be part of a gratitude journal, which is also great for your well-being. Look back over your journal at the end of each month.
Celebrate each win. No need for a dinner out every time. Your celebration doesn’t need to mean a large outlay of cash – or any, but at least give yourself a pat on the back. The important thing is to recognize your wins in some small way.
Recognize the importance of your small wins. Connect each achievement back to your core values, larger goals, and behavior changes, to make them feel like the real victories they are.
Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection! Need help identifying which small wins can help you hit your big goals and change your financial future? Book a free 30-minute call and see how you can start making progress right away!