You are working hard. You’ve set goals and made a step-by-step action plan for how your goals are going to be accomplished. You’ve even taken your larger dream and broken it down into smaller, manageable chunks.
You’ve abandoned the overwhelm that often comes when focusing solely on a broader vision and instead embraced the freedom of working efficiently and purposefully on each benchmark goal and task.
You’ve done it! Your hard work has paid off. You’ve conquered your first mountain, achieved the first benchmark goal in your action plan.
Now what?
It’s time to celebrate the win and take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate your own hard work and progress.
For many individuals, it is tempting to skip this critical step of the achievement process. We accomplish one task and quickly set our sights on the next job on our to-do lists. This can be especially true when we are still in the process of working towards our larger end goals.
We keep pushing. We keep moving forward. We fail to slow down and take time to appreciate each measure of success.
Easy as it can be to overlook our small successes, we run the risk of hindering our progress towards larger goals when we don’t take time to celebrate each small victory.
Why does celebrating “the win” matter?
We are motivated by the feeling of accomplishment and success. When we don’t take time to acknowledge our own progress, success begins to feel distant and unachievable, and we run the risk of burnout before we’ve accomplished our ultimate end goals.
“When we fail to acknowledge and celebrate small victories, we get discouraged, and the flame inside us starts to dwindle.”
Kristin Koonce
Celebrating success, on the other hand, is invigorating! It gives us the strength to keep moving forward and the opportunity to remind ourselves of the critical truth:
“I can do this! I AM doing this!”
When it comes to acknowledging our progress and celebrating our victories, our celebrations should be both immediate and meaningful. If we wait too long to celebrate an accomplished goal, the encouragement and motivation we can receive won’t be nearly as significant or impactful as if we made celebrating a priority.
3 Simple Ways to Celebrate the Wins
The particular ways in which you choose to celebrate your progress should be specific and meaningful to you. This can vary significantly from person to person, depending on what you enjoy. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few ideas and suggestions to get you started:
- Personal Reflection
After each small victory or accomplished goal, try taking some time to reflect on your progress. What did you do well? What helped you accomplish that task? What aspects of the process are you grateful for? What obstacles did you overcome?Taking time to reflect on where you started and what you’ve accomplished so far can be a motivating reminder that you have what it takes to achieve your goals! - Take Some Time Off
You’ve been working hard to achieve your goals, and likely invested a lot of time and energy in the process. Whether it’s a weekend, a day, or even just an afternoon, take some time off to rest, restore, and appreciate how far you’ve come. Choose an activity that refuels you. Whether that’s having drinks with good friends, taking a self-care spa day, or going for a walk in a local park, make sure your celebration time off is spent doing something that feels exciting and rewarding. - Include Others
Maybe you can relate to the phrase “a party of one is never fun.” Our successes often feel more meaningful when we have someone to share them with. Do you have someone in your life walking with you on this journey? Whether it’s a spouse, friend, or mentor, give that person a call and share your accomplishments with them and maybe invite them to join you in a victory dinner!
What’s Next? Mapping Your Next Steps
“Plan your next move, because every step contributes towards your goal!”
Sukant Ratnakar
Although it is wise to focus your energy on accomplishing one task at a time, it is also essential to keep your ultimate goals in mind and create a strategic plan for further progress. Taking time to plan your next steps prevents a single moment of success from being your only success.
To continue making progress towards your goals, take some time to plan and adjust your activities for the next 30-, 60- or 90-days. Consider what you’ve accomplished, and ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I need to do to maintain the progress I’ve already made?
- What have been the strengths in my work process thus far? How can I build on them?
- What have been weaknesses in my work process thus far? How can I alleviate them?
- What is the logical next step on the path to achieving my ultimate goals?
- What is my timeline? When does this next benchmark goal need to be accomplished?
- Who can help me achieve this next goal?
Although an exciting process, accomplishing your goals and planning future strategic moves is not a simple task. It can help you to seek advice, counsel, and wisdom from other individuals when creating your game plan.
If you are serious about moving forward towards your goals and making the most of your time, energy, and resources, fill out this form HERE to schedule a call and discuss whether coaching might be right for you.
Resources:
https://www.brilliantlivinghq.com/6-reasons-why-you-should-celebrate-success/
https://www.verywellmind.com/healthy-ways-to-celebrate-success-4163887
