Small wins matter: Here’s how celebrating little victories can boost motivation and wellbeing

For as far as I can remember, I have had this certain kind of give-up attitude about most things in life. For instance, if I could not figure out a game in the first few tries, I would quit. I once joined a driving school, but after a few days of struggle, I gave up on that too. Then came my short-lived attempt at stock investing; it felt too complicated, so I gave up. The truth is, I never really put in much effort.

Indeed, I was quick to let go of things that felt even slightly hard and inconvenient. But something shifted a few months ago. My friends Merlin and Tenzin were planning a holiday to the Himalayas. Not just any vacation, they were going to trek the grand Tosh Valley. And they told me they would be training for six months; running, working out and following a strict diet. I knew there was no way I could keep up with them. Even so, I agreed to join them. However, after following the regimen for 3 weeks, I gave up. That’s when my friends sat me down and told me a secret hiding in plain sight from me—the beauty of small wins.

“You don’t have to do everything at once,” they said. “You just have to show up little by little. And you have to celebrate the small stuff,” they chimed together. That conversation changed how I saw effort, progress and motivation. It taught me that every small step forward counted. That tiny victories made a big difference in how we felt and how far we made it in life. And soon after, I was able to put in the hard work required to complete the trek with them successfully. Till a few months back, it was unimaginable for me to even attempt it but the mind shift changed it all for me.

It has been seen that a lot of us focus only on the big wins; landing that perfect job, launching that dream venture or buying that new home. But it is the small steps that actually get us there. It is these little wins that act as the power behind our sustained motivation and mental wellbeing.

In fact, there is numerous research to support this. A study conducted by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, that was published in their book The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work, stated that individuals who kept a daily journal of their progress and celebrated even small achievements, reported higher motivation and greater wellbeing. This clearly shows that celebrating small wins not only motivates us not to give up, but also helps us find purpose.

So, let’s explore the benefits of celebrating our little wins.

Builds momentum

Many of us are conditioned to believe that only the big wins matter. It takes some time and unlearning past patterns to remember that every big achievement actually starts with small actions. When we celebrate small victories like waking up early, finishing a task on time, or simply sticking to our daily routine, we reinforce the habit of progress. These moments then act like fuel and that keeps us running.

In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Marketing Research, researchers Alexander L Brown and Joanna N Lahey examined the power of small victories in motivating task completion. They found that when participants who broke a challenging task like paying off a debt into small tasks, they completed them much faster.

This study shows that instead of waiting for a big moment of success, small wins can keep us on the right path and help us stay consistent.

Boosts self confidence

I remember when I failed my driving test, I was really upset. My confidence had taken a real beating. Many years later, I realised that I did not celebrate those little wins I got each day and instead, simply gave up.

It is important that every time we accomplish something, we give ourselves a little pat on the back. Doing so sends a message to our brain that, “Yes I can do this.” Over time whether it is speaking up in a meeting, hitting our water intake or simply getting out of bed at 6am every morning, acknowledging our own efforts reminds us of our inner strength. Celebrating these wins reinforces a self-belief which is essential for growth and our wellbeing.

According to the findings of American academic Teresa M Amabile and researcher Steven J Kramer, celebrating small wins can boost motivation and wellbeing. It can also enhance our self-esteem. Thus, a regular pat on the back is a win-win in every sense!

Improves emotional wellbeing

It is really hard to wait for the big wins and feel like our life is worthwhile only then. That kind of pressure on goals is sure to take its toll on anyone’s emotional health. It can make every small failure feel like we are not good enough. So, it is essential that we celebrate the small wins on a regular basis.

Research shows that small wins can have a big impact on our mood. In the book The Burnout Challenge, researchers Christina Maslach and Michael Leiter state that insufficient rewards are one of the major reasons people burn out at work. Insufficient rewards include lack of benefits and recognition. Their findings show that celebrating small wins not only keeps us motivated but also enhances our emotional wellbeing.

Strengthens sense of purpose

Every small step taken in life gives us a reason to keep going. When we start celebrating the tiny victories, like writing one page of our book daily or saving a small amount of money weekly, it reminds us to keep going. It also gives us purpose. These moments connect us to our bigger goals and dreams.

The renowned writer Robin Sharma states, “If you want to stay fired up, develop a truly focused mindset, feel emotionally alive, feel inspired, develop higher levels of drive and stay on your best game, then we need to do this… celebrate tiny wins at the end of every single day.” Over time, this practice doesn’t just keep us motivated; it gives purpose, direction and meaning to life.

Releases feel-good hormones

Celebrating the small wins doesn’t just feel good, it is actually good for the body and mind. According to the Optimum Health Institute, celebratory activities trigger the release of endorphins and serotonin, the body’s natural mood boosters. These chemicals help reduce stress, lift mood and improve our sense of wellbeing.

Whether it is treating ourselves to a snack after completing a task or sharing it with a friend, these moments of celebration tend to improve our emotional balance and bring a more positive outlook in life, making it easier to stay motivated.

So, celebrating small wins is not just a habit, it’s about recognising our daily efforts and believing that every step matters. These small victories build our motivation and keep us wanting to do better everyday. As the legendary author Paulo Coelho says, “The great victory, which appears so simple today, was the result of a series of small victories that went unnoticed.”