5 “Little” Victories You Should Always Celebrate

Celebrating feels good. Being recognized for a significant achievement is always GR8. But there are a million “little” victories that you should always celebrate, too. When you take the time to focus on the often-overlooked achievements you reach daily, it can have an invaluable positive impact on your self-esteem.

If you think your self-image may be holding you back, it’s an even better idea to find small victories daily. Here are some ideas of things to celebrate. There is no accomplishment too small. They all add up to the bigger picture and the ultimate goal of loving yourself, no matter what.

1) Completing Your To-Do List

Whether you scratched everything off your to-do list for the week, or just your list for the day, it’s a reason to celebrate. It can be difficult to get all our errands and obligations in with the business of work and home life. When you do, recognize your achievement. You’ve begun to master the art of time management, a key to preventing burnout.

2) Saying “No” Without Guilt

You may not consider this a victory, but it is. Many people struggle with saying “no” to others, whether it be invitations, imposing favors, or enabling behaviors. When you finally say “no” and do so with a sense of confidence, it’s a small act that deserves huge recognition.

3) Sticking to Your Weekly Budget

Did you stay within your budget this week? Resist impulse shopping or eating out when you didn’t need to? Victory! Take a moment to celebrate. Of course, sometimes unexpected vet bills or car repairs pop up, which is no reason to feel bad. It’s a part of life. But if you’re on a journey to grow your savings account, this is a huge “little” victory. Some people believe keeping up with your finances is considered self-care.

4) Meeting a Deadline

Sure, meeting deadlines is a part of your job or academic life. It’s expected of you. But anyone who’s ever worked on a deadline knows that it can be stressful. Anytime you meet a deadline, whether it’s one you set for yourself or otherwise, celebrate. You did it! Deadlines are an amazing way to measure your progress.

5) Loving Yourself

If you made a conscious choice to eliminate negative self-talk today, use positive affirmations to start improving your self-esteem. Even setting time for self-care is a reason for celebration. In today’s society, we constantly battle the external factors that affect our self-image and the pressure of social media. If you took the time to love yourself today, that’s a huge victory.

What Does It Mean to Celebrate?

When we hear the word “celebration,” we often think of parties, extravagant dinners, and presents. But celebrations can be more than that. Taking a long, hot bubble bath can be a celebration. Taking a minute to reflect and smile to yourself is a celebration.

Keep a journal where you write down your “little” victories at the end of each day. Even if you jot down two or three, that counts. As time goes on, you’ll have pages and pages to look back on to remind yourself of all the things you’ve achieved.

So set some small goals and celebrate them. You’ll be amazed at how much better you start to feel.