Small wins are the little victories that add up to something big. They’re a natural part of life in the real world, not just what you can find in movies. To get through challenging times and remain optimistic, you need to find small wins in everything.
Even when life throws you curveballs, finding small wins can help you stay positive and keep going no matter what. Finding small wins helps lighten your load, so even if your struggles seem overwhelming and you can’t see past them right now, they won’t weigh on you forever.
Smaller victories will help put things in perspective again once things get dark. Here are some ways to find small wins every day:
Make a point to enjoy the little things
When you’re looking for small wins, don’t just look for the obvious victories. Enjoy the little things in life, like a beautiful sunset or a funny moment with your friends. When you make these things a priority, no matter how small, you’ll find it easier to have a positive mindset.
You’ll appreciate life more as a whole, and when you appreciate everything that comes your way, it’s easier to deal with the challenges you face.
Focus on accomplishing small goals
One very easy way to find small wins is to set a series of small goals. Setting achievable goals both give you something to work toward and a sense of accomplishment once you reach them.
There are a few ways you can set yourself up to find small wins through goal setting:
- Set daily and weekly goals. While long-term goals can be great, short-term goals can help you stay on track and stay positive even when you’re struggling. It may be difficult to stay positive when you’re going through a particularly difficult time, but when you have smaller goals to work toward, it’s easier to stay positive. It’s easier to look forward to what you’re doing today than in the distant future.
- Make your goals achievable. When you set goals that are too lofty, you may end up feeling like a failure even when you work hard. Make your goals achievable so you’re more likely to stay positive and reach the finish line.
Celebrate your wins no matter how small they are
Celebrating your small wins can help encourage you to continue on your path to success. It can also help you appreciate these little victories so you don’t take them for granted.
For example, if you’re trying to exercise more and get in shape when you celebrate every time you go to the gym, you’ll be more likely to keep going. If you only focus on the bigger picture, it’s easy to get discouraged when progress is slow. However, when you celebrate every small win, you’ll be more likely to stay positive when things get difficult. That way, you’ll be less likely to give up when there are still a couple of milestones ahead of you.
Step back and appreciate what you’ve already done
When everything seems overwhelming and you feel like you’re swimming against the tide, it can be helpful to step back and look at your accomplishments so far.
This can help you find small wins and appreciate what you’re already doing. If you’re in a particularly dark place, you can also reflect on past successes to stay positive:
- Make a list of your past successes. You’re bound to have accomplished something in your life so far, even if it’s something small. Make a list of all the things you’ve done in life so far, no matter how big or small. This can help you feel more positive about your life as a whole.
- Talk about your successes with friends. Sharing your triumphs with those you trust can help you feel more positive about your life as a whole and make you feel like you aren’t alone when you’re struggling.
Recognize that this too shall pass
No matter how much you’re struggling, it will end like no matter how hard things are, they will get easier. What’s more, no matter how bad things may seem, they will get better. It’s easy to lose sight of these truths when you’re going through a challenging time, but one of the best ways to stay positive is to remember that things always get better.
If you’ve been through challenges before, you know how they pass. It’s easier to stay positive when you know that everything that’s difficult now will end soon. If you’re going through something new and don’t know how long it will last, keep reminding yourself that it will pass. This can help you make it through even the worst challenges.
