Looking for a Sense of Accomplishment in 2021? Celebrate the Small Wins
Scrap the big goals for now and just aim for attainable micro-goals
There’s no doubt that 2020 was definitely no one’s shining year — admittedly, it was a year full of despair and tragedy for everyone across the globe. And just because you may not have suffered a personal loss doesn’t make the events of this past year any less tragic.
We all faced — and are continuing to face — a global pandemic that still shows no sign of stopping yet. Many of us have found it difficult to carry on at times. Many of us have had to put major life events and life goals on hold because of everything that’s been going on.
However, despite the things we’ve had to put on hold, the clock still strikes midnight each night and another day passes. Time continues on and waits for no one. Which is why we need to do our best to make these days count and make them as meaningful as possible…of course that’s much easier said than done.
I know that New Year’s resolutions seem a little ridiculous and pointless this year. And as impossible as it may seem to garner any sense of accomplishment in the months to come especially while things continue to spiral, we still have to do our best to get something, anything, out of our days.
So, if you’re looking for a sense of accomplishment in 2021, just focus on the small wins
Big goals already seemed difficult to achieve before COVID-19 existed. Now, throw in this widespread virus and of course they will seem damn near impossible.
Scrap the big goals for now and just aim for attainable micro-goals
And I don’t mean micro-goals like simply getting out of bed — though yes, that does seem like quite an accomplishment these days. What I mean is aim for (and celebrate) micro-goals that will actually have a long-lasting impact on your future and can potentially build a lifelong habit.
Say, for example, you’ve been wanting to tidy up around the house a bit more. Create a mini-goal such as making it a point to make your bed in the morning right after you wake up.
Or maybe you’ve been wanting to exercise more, then start out super small. Make it a point to go outside and get a bit of exercise at least once each day by going for a 10 to 15 minute walk around the block. Or if you don’t want to leave your house, set aside 10 to 15 minutes to do a quick workout in the comfort of your own home.
Or say you’ve been wanting to eat a bit healthier. Then, try swapping out just one unhealthy snack (or meal) each day for a healthier alternative— it can be something as small as swapping out a bag of chips for an apple.
Big changes don’t happen overnight. They’re a collective result of little changes each and every single day. And the same goes for big goals. Big goals aren’t accomplished in one single day. We have to first start out small based on what we’re able to realistically handle, keep doing it until it becomes a happen, and then build upon that.
I know that it may seem extremely unthinkable to even brainstorm any sort of accomplishments right now — or maybe you don’t even have slightest bit of motivation to set any type of goal quite yet — but, that’s okay.
You can start whenever you’re ready.
Just know that whenever you are, it’s completely fine to start out by celebrating the small wins first. That’s what will eventually get you to the big wins. And that’s what will get you through this year.
