The power of small victories

When approaching the creation of new habits or the achievement of ambitious goals, it is critical to focus on "small wins" or incremental progress.

Trying to make drastic changes overnight is often overwhelming and unsustainable.

Instead, breaking big goals into small, manageable steps facilitates progress and maintains motivation.

Decomposing Major Goals

When you want to establish a new habit, such as starting to exercise, it is a common mistake to set overly demanding initial goals, such as exercising for 30 minutes every day from the get-go, especially if you have no prior routine. This approach can quickly lead to frustration and abandonment.

The strategy of small victories suggests starting with very small and easily achievable steps.

For example, if the goal is to exercise, the first day could consist of simply spending one minute on the activity, the second day two minutes, and so on, gradually increasing the duration or intensity.

The Chemical Reward of Achievement

Every time one of these small goals is achieved, no matter how modest, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation.

This "chemical reward" makes us feel good and reinforces the behavior, making us more likely to want to repeat it the next day.

This mechanism is crucial for building adherence to the new habit. Feeling that progress is being made, even in small steps, generates a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy that fuels the desire to continue.

Practical Application

This strategy can be applied to a