Graduation is almost here and it is a big accomplishment, maybe the biggest one of your life so far. Whether you’re getting your diploma this month or not, though, you have a lot to celebrate.
It’s a good idea to celebrate all of your wins, not just the gigantic ones. Are you on course to get an A in the hardest class you’ve ever taken? Are you winding up the semester in a cool friend group of people you didn’t even know at this time last year? Did you get your driver’s license? Learn how to cook spaghetti and meatballs?
These might not be milestones, but they’re still worth celebrating.
We’re in the final stretch before summer break, and it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Maybe you added an eight-week course to your schedule last month, or the one-credit class you thought would be a breeze has ended up being time consuming.
We start each semester with a list of goals to achieve. But as the assignments add up and the workload gets heavier before finals, it can be hard to manage. If you fall behind, you can start to hold a grudge against yourself and your lack of motivation.
What could be more motivating than a win? Every day is full of them, but we let our busy schedules and days-long study sessions overshadow them.
It’s easy to lose yourself in the big picture and overlook the small wins.
Psychology Today defines small wins as “modest behavior changes that can set off a chain reaction of more and better changes.”
So every morning, get the ball rolling by making your bed. This will have you feeling successful before you even leave your room.
Coming home to a space that is nice and tidy can help make you feel less anxious and overwhelmed.
Another example of a small win is acing a quiz that you were nervous for. This could even be a part of a larger goal you have to pass a class. When you recognize your hard work has paid off, you might find faith in yourself.
It takes discipline and resilience to ace a college course, especially if you are also juggling a job or raising kids. Time management is a skill to take pride in.
Tiny tasks that you complete instead of taking a shortcut, like cooking a meal for yourself instead of ordering take-out, is another reason to pat yourself on the back. It’s hard not to DoorDash food frequently—it’s so convenient—but think of how much money you save when you cook at home. Another win.
Noting your everyday accomplishments can help you build the habit of goal-setting. Try rewarding yourself with a gift, like a walk to a park or even with coloring a page in a coloring book whenever you accomplish a small goal.
So if you’re graduating, congratulations on your enormous accomplishment. And even if you’re not, congratulations to you, too, for every small goal you fulfilled all semester long.
