What counts as a win in your life?

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Hey there,

100 days. 219 tiny wins. 1 unexpected lesson.

That's what my small wins tracker revealed after I started a simple experiment: Instead of focusing on big goals, I'd track every tiny step forward.

Some entries seem almost trivial:

• Making my bed before checking my phone.

• Sending that difficult email I'd been avoiding.

• Taking a proper lunch break away from my desk.

• Actually enjoying a cup of coffee while it's hot.

Others capture quiet victories:

• Saying no to an unnecessary meeting

• Closing my laptop at 6 PM

• Going for a walk during a stressful call

• Choosing to read a book instead of scrolling

But here's what fascinated me…

It wasn't the individual wins that mattered.

It was the story they told together. Every small win left a trail of evidence – evidence that I could follow through on intentions, make better choices, build new patterns, and trust myself more.

The Science Behind Small Wins

Research from Harvard Business School revealed that tracking progress, even in small ways, directly impacts motivation and productivity. In fact, of all the factors studied, the single most important predictor of a good workday was making progress in meaningful work.

The numbers are compelling:

• People who track small progress are 76% more likely to maintain long-term habits

• Teams that celebrate small wins show 33% higher productivity

• Daily progress tracking increases motivation by up to 40%

The Compound Effect

What surprised me most was how these tiny victories created ripples throughout my day. One good decision in the morning often led to better choices in the afternoon. A small win on Monday built momentum for Tuesday. A week of tiny progress added up to a noticeable change.

Dr. BJ Fogg, founder of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab, found that starting with tiny habits - ones that take less than 30 seconds to complete - leads to more sustainable behavior change than attempting big transformations.

The Neuroscience of Small Wins

Every time you acknowledge a small win, your brain releases dopamine - a neurotransmitter that reinforces behavior. Harvard researchers found that this "success accelerator" makes you more likely to repeat the behavior that led to the win.

More importantly, UC Berkeley's research shows that tracking small wins:

• Reduces stress levels by up to 27%

• Improves decision-making ability

• Increases resilience to setbacks

• Enhances learning from mistakes

What Changed?

Around day 30, something shifted. I stopped having to track wins – I started naturally creating opportunities for them. That difficult email? I'd send it first thing, turning potential procrastination into a morning victory. That decision to close my laptop? It became easier when I saw it as a win rather than a sacrifice.

The most powerful changes were the subtle ones:

• Morning decisions became easier

• Better choices felt natural

• Progress felt inevitable, not forced

• Small wins led to bigger changes

Your Turn

Start with just one day of tracking small wins. Notice the tiny victories that usually go uncelebrated. The small choices that move you forward. The quiet moments of choosing better.

How to Begin:

• Keep a simple note on your phone

• Write down anything positive, no matter how small

• Review your wins before bed

• Start each day looking for new opportunities

Remember: Progress isn't built on dramatic changes. It's built on tiny victories, stacked one on top of another, day after day.

Here's to celebrating the small steps,

Raihan | Mindful Maven

P.S.

Life becomes easier when you become a master of the mental models of humans. 

Understand the big ideas and disciplines to make better decisions. 

Think clearer. Decide better. Achieve more.

Elon Musk, Naval Ravikant and Warren Buffet use this to make better decisions. 

Read it now.