Why celebrating small wins matters

I recently had the opportunity to gather with colleagues from across the state to celebrate the accomplishments of 2025. This event is important each year, with a keynote speaker and an awards ceremony.

Awards are nice but not necessary. Sometimes you just need to take a moment to acknowledge the success of yourself and others. When was the last time you took a moment to celebrate a success, big or small?

Why celebrate?

Recognizing even the little things (small wins) like finishing a task, an empty sink, checking off your to-do list, et cetera, boosts motivation and can improve overall satisfaction. The act of celebrating releases dopamine and reinforces positive behavior. This can help create a positive loop of motivation, success, celebration and satisfaction. However, not celebrating and simply moving on to the next thing can lead to low life satisfaction and burnout.

Celebrate big wins in big ways

You work hard to accomplish your goals. Celebrate in memorable ways like a party, a weekend trip or a piece of jewelry. These types of celebrations give closure to big projects and allow us to reflect on the challenging work put into reaching the goal and appreciate what was achieved. Celebrating also can involve social and emotional support … as much or as little as you want.

There is a reason we have graduation parties. It is a celebration of a big accomplishment shared with a lot of people. I still have the leather Coach briefcase I received as a gift for my college graduation.

What can you do?

—Be clear about goals. What are your goals? For 2026? Not resolutions. Goals. If you have large goals, break them down into smaller goals (stages, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily).

—Decide what your small rewards will be. Have lots of small rewards to pick from for smaller goals. Ideas could be a new book, some “you” time, a “fancy” drink at your favorite café, or something for your home or office.

—Determine the big reward for your big goals. Having the predetermined reward helps you work toward something.

—Be accountable to someone. By telling someone else what you are doing, you are more likely to do it.

Many of us have heard the Chinese proverb, “A journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step.” Some journeys seem so overwhelming that just getting started is tough. So we start by putting one foot in front of the other with that first step. Other journeys feel like they will never end. In these cases it is important to find places throughout the journey to pause, rest and celebrate. It is important to enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

In this season of holidays, remember to aim for progress over perfection. Eat a vegetable, go for a walk, take a stress break and enjoy each day as it comes. Celebrate in your own way.

Kate Shumaker is an OSU Extension family and consumer sciences educator and may be reached at 330-674-3015. Like and follow on Facebook @OSUEXTHolmes or visit holmes.osu.edu.