As a college student, I have been thinking about big milestones a lot. At this point in my life and the lives of my peers, we are seeing students move into their first apartments, meet their first significant others, graduate from college, hunt for jobs and internships and even get engaged.
It got me really thinking, though, that it is more common for our society to celebrate bigger milestones that happen in our lives than smaller ones.
It’s common for people to create an event to celebrate a birthday, a wedding, a baby shower, family reunions and especially holidays. But why don’t we take the time to slow down and celebrate the smaller milestones?
One article I found in my research was from the University of Minnesota Extension that said “Our brains are wired to respond to rewards. Celebrating the completion of small accomplishments leads to the completion of larger goals. According to research by Teresa Amabile from Harvard Business School, people who tracked their small achievements every day enhanced their motivation.”
If we look into completing and even celebrating these smaller achievements, our confidence will increase, and we can get ourselves to work and complete bigger milestones we have always dreamed about.
The same article also said, “The simple practice of recording your progress helps you to appreciate your small wins which in turn boosts your sense of confidence. Why? Any accomplishment, no matter how small, releases the neurotransmitter dopamine which boosts your mood, motivation and attention. It also signals you to keep doing the activity again and again.”
But what can some of these small achievements be?
It can be as simple as taking care of your body. Taking that extra time to keep a good sleep schedule for the week, eating well and exercising are things that can be hard for many to take time to do. But self-care is productive.
It can be about making it to all of your classes and staying focused, completing a challenging project at work or school, getting a good grade in a class, a small raise at work, joining a club or even getting a part-time job.
Small achievements or milestones can even be starting something you have been afraid of doing, like going to a Thursday night dance class or going on a longer drive to visit friends.
Maybe you have been putting in a lot of effort to get to know yourself more. Maybe you have been taking care of your family, where you have been putting in your energy both physically and mentally.
There are so many valid small achievements and milestones that can be celebrated.
But how can we celebrate them?
You can treat yourself to a small gift that you have been wanting, because you deserve it after all of your hard work. Or you can take a really nice self-care day on your own or with a friend or partner.
If you are able, taking a day trip somewhere can be fun to see a new place, but also being in a new space can help relax your mind and anxieties. If you want to have more fresh air, maybe take an hour or two to go on a walk, a jog or a hike in nature.
If you have the extra budget, why not even go to the extent of hosting a small gathering or go out somewhere and hangout with your friends and family?
Having dinner out to catch up with your loved ones and to celebrate your small accomplishments should be more normalized. We don’t get too many big milestones in a year’s time, so use the little things to boost your confidence and give yourself the recognition that you deserve.
Ella Katona is an opinion writer. Contact her at [email protected].
