31 Little ‘Wins’ We Rarely Celebrate But Should

When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back for something simple like not hitting the snooze button or cooking instead of ordering out? Not recently? Never? That’s not surprising. We tend to be so focused on chasing the big goals that we often overlook the everyday victories.

Another reason we miss the small achievements? “As people, we have what’s called the negativity bias, where our brains tend to hold on and remember the negative information more than the positive,” says Catherine J. Mills, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Portsmouth, Virginia. “Celebrating small wins helps to counter [the negativity bias] and can help you live not just a happier life but possibly a healthier one since it should ultimately help reduce your stress,” she says.

Plus, acknowledging minor successes makes you feel good, boosts your confidence and motivates you to keep going, leading to more wins — big and small.

Check out these tiny triumphs that deserve major applause.

You woke up feeling refreshed. That’s a sign your sleep quality is on point.

This weather. Go outside. Now that spring is near, the warmer temps and fresh air are wins for all of us!

You got in some physical activity. Even if it was only 10 minutes or not your best effort, you moved your body.

You cleaned something. Not up for tackling your entire home right now? Cleaning one room or doing a single load of laundry is one step closer.

Saying “no.” “Checking in with yourself and recognizing when you’ve reached your capacity or when something just doesn’t feel like it’s serving you is a win,” says Joy Pate, a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, California.

You ate fruit or veggies. Even if you didn’t get the recommended 4 to 5 servings today, you’re baby-stepping your way to a healthier diet.

You faced the day. Sometimes, simply getting out of bed, taking a shower and making it to work is worthy of celebration, says Dr. Mills.

You checked yourself. As much as you wanted to go off on you-know-who, you kept your cool.

Crossing something off your to-do list. One task (or writing the list, period) is a victory.

That mistake or wrong decision was a lesson. Did you learn from your mess up? If yes, awesome!

Any drop on the scale. If you are trying to lose weight, dropping even a pound puts you closer to your goal.

Stepping outside your comfort zone. “When you’re pushing yourself outside of what feels comfortable, that’s where you find the most growth,” says Pate.

You talked to someone new. Chatting with someone outside your usual peeps can help you expand your social circle, boost your mood and increase your knowledge.

You said, “Yes.” Bravo for being open to new opportunities or doing something you really want to do.