Small wins

When it’s time for me to leave the office for the day, I’m outta there. But that means I start the next day washing my cup from the previous day… something I very easily could have done before I left in the afternoon. 

One morning while I was washing my cup and making lime water to fill it back up, I was chatting with one of our executives. I joked, “It’s like the make your bed’ of office life. I leave the dirty cup so I can start the day with a small win by washing it.” Then me being me, I immediately chastised myself, “One day I’ll be the person who washes their cup before leaving, but that’s not today.” 

The man I was talking to responded, “No! You are right. We all need small, early wins in the day. So keep on washing that cup in the morning.” 

I thought about it and said, “You’re right. I was joking before, but it’s actually true.” 

For those who don’t know what I mean by “Make your bed,” you should read the bestseller about it. But the gist is that by making your bed, you’re already setting an accomplished, ambitious tone for your day. 

I know this might sound anecdotal or silly, but there’s science behind it. When you check something off your “to do” list, your brain gives you a hit of that sweet, sweet dopamine. You literally feel happier. That’s why some people can’t quit their “to do” lists. Some friends and I have even confessed to each other that after we do a task that wasn’t on the list, we write it on just so that we can also check it off.

So think about how you can set up other parts of your life for small wins. Instead of going nuts trying to check off everything on your “to do” list before you go to bed, is there some small task or chore you can set aside to do in the morning to set the tone for your day? Everyone has very different lives and schedules so it feels silly to list ideas. You know you. You know what will motivate you vs. what will be a stressful event in the morning. 

And it doesn’t just have to be in the morning! This week, I’m looking for ways to find small wins throughout my day, even if it means doing something counterintuitive like leaving my cup unwashed in the afternoon.

I hope this helps set you up for a lifetime of small wins!

With gratitude, 

Natalie