As the UK hits the one-year mark since first entering lockdown, it’s hard to feel like celebrating much of anything. For the past twelve months, we have been presented with a tidal wave of challenges, from the mundane to the world-changing. We have learned how to make ourselves Zoom-presentable while donning comfy clothes in work calls; we’ve completed Netflix and dabbled in new hobbies, becoming amateur bakers, artists, and athletes. But we have also seen extensive job losses, a rise in homelessness, blatant systemic corruption, and the tragic loss of thousands of lives.
When faced with uncertain or life-changing events, people have very different coping mechanisms. But the changes have come so thick and fast this past year, it has felt like being on a roller coaster in the dark; you don’t know where the next turn is or when the floor will drop beneath you. Instagrammable rallying cries of this too shall pass have become exhausted wails as we wait for the ride to end.
There’s no denying being a creative freelancer has been especially tricky this past year. The well of inspiration has all but dried up due to being stuck indoors with minimal human contact; only so many ideas can be bled from the plain white walls of your rented flat. The exciting hustle of pitching has become a speeding treadmill set on a steep incline. It’s been a year where not being ghosted by editors or clients has been a small victory, while #girlboss, #sidehustle influencers encourage us to monetise our passions for that six-figure salary (because heaven forbid you take time off to enjoy things as a hobby) and the British government has clearly displayed their contempt for supporting the arts, encouraging struggling creatives to retrain. (Am I the only one still cringing at that “cyber” ad?)
After one year of gripping the wheel as tightly as possible to stay on track, I still feel like my wheels are spinning out from underneath me. And I’m fairly confident I’m not the only one feeling this way.
While reading Debbie Harry’s memoir Face It last year—and inevitably feeling like a failure for reading instead of working—a few highlights, slipped between the electric atmosphere of NYC’s DIY punk scene and global stardom, struck me as particularly interesting. One was Harry’s close encounter with (maybe) Ted Bundy—the Murderino in me needs an entire book dedicated to that, please. But most significant was the following quote:
Looking at what we have so far, it’s good to see that I’ve accomplished more in my life than was ever expected of me. Last year in London, a journalist asked me what I had done that I was most proud of. My answer: Even trying to do it, that was a major step.
—Debbie Harry, Face It (HarperCollins, 2019)
Something clicked.
If the queen of cool Debbie Harry is proud of herself for simply trying things in the first place, no matter the outcome, then maybe we should be too. I, for one, like the idea of being more Blondie.
We’ve become so used to seeing people’s success stories on social media that we often forget the hard work, effort and failure that accompanies great things, even if it’s just changing out of our pyjamas for the day ahead. We’ve become accustomed to rolling our eyes at the age-old saying it’s the taking part that counts in our never-ending pursuit to be The Best.
We often skip the most important part of every day: celebrating the little wins.
This idea of finding value in trying has cropped up repeatedly in my life since reading Face It. An odd synchronicity that has followed me through podcasts, TV shows, random conversations, and articles. Gradually, I became ever more curious and decided to follow the little white bunny down the rabbit hole.
Celebrating little wins isn’t a new concept. Far from it. It’s a tactic that has been used in every industry for decades. As we are often motivated by visible progress, recognising our small achievements boosts morale, productivity, and mental health. But I’d spent so much of 2020 feeling like a failure scrabbling through life as I faced rejection and stumbled over hurdles and took steps backwards, this ended up being my most significant breakthrough of the lockdown.
Ultimately, by taking the time to recognise the small achievements, I have found I’ve made bigger strides towards my larger goals. Ambitions no longer feel like ridiculous pipedreams but attainable goals. It even made losses and rejection more manageable, offering the opportunity to briefly reflect and move on instead of dramatically stressing that I’d never find work again.
The little wins are significant, tiny benchmarks we often overlook; the charming service station where you pick up a coffee during a long drive to your target destination.
So, how can you celebrate your little wins?
Here are some of my favourite ideas:
Write Them Down
Writers, we all know you have a drawer full of notebooks you’re saving for “the right thing”. Well, I’m here to tell you this is one of those things. At the end of each day, write down three accomplishments. Most of the time, these will probably seem completely inane (“I tidied my computer desktop”, “I remembered to water my plants”). But they can give you a clearer vision of your overall roadmap. On days you feel discouraged, revisit your small wins notebook to see the steps you’ve taken to get where you are.
Check Off Your To-Do List
An alternative to documenting your achievements at the end of the day: writing a good old fashioned to-do list first thing in the morning. Simply writing one feels like a productive kickstart. The easiest way to score a win for the day is to check something off. Start your day with a small task for a quick dopamine hit and motivation boost.
Can you see the running theme here? Take time to notice your achievements!
Tell Someone
We’re always quick to shout about our big wins on social media, but there’s nothing quite like catching up with a friend or telling a family member about your day. Tell your flatmate about your little wins while you make a coffee in the kitchen or call your mum to let her know how you’re getting on. Vocalising your wins makes them feel real. And don’t worry, it isn’t boastful. Those closest to us are genuinely interested in all our achievements, no matter the size.
Yes!
This one I learned during a gym class. During a half-hour of AMRAP torture, the instructor suggested saying a small “yes” to myself before jumping into the next round. It worked during the workout, so I decided to try it after achieving little things at work too. Sent an email I’d been putting off? Yes! Finished writing a blog post? Yes! Spent half an hour learning languages? Yes!
If speaking your achievements out loud to someone feels awkward, give this a try. A quiet, private acknowledgement of finishing something.
Make a Vision Board
I used to cringe at the idea of vision boards, but this past year, I’ve found them really useful, partly because they have brightened up the walls a bit, but also because I can add small mementoes during my journey, quite literally adding to the bigger picture. Get crafty and make one or create a digital Pinterest board, adding images as your project progresses.
Reward Yourself
Forever my favourite. Give yourself a reward for achieving literally anything. Rewards boost motivation which helps us focus to get things done. I’m much more likely to power through a task when I know I’ll get a Jaffa Cake (or three) at the end. It can be as small as a fifteen-minute break, stretching, or giving yourself a high-five—or something bigger like getting your favourite takeaway for tea or buying cake.
Don’t Add Pressure
Some days, achieving small goals can feel like a difficult task (though, if you really think about it, I bet you’ll have done something to celebrate in the day!). Because our pursuit of goals ultimately ties into our perception of success, the determination to find “impressive” small wins to write in our notebooks or reward ourselves for can add to the stress of getting things done, ultimately making us feel like failures when we don’t hit our mini-targets.
Your celebrations are just for you. Take the stress out of it and don’t feel guilty when you forget to write them down at the end of the day. Small wins don’t have to feed into toxic productivity. A significant one could be: “took time off when I really needed it today.” Personal wins are just as important as career ones. Remember to have fun along the way.