I started a new tradition this year: Post-It progress.
Like a big ol’ nerd, I still carry around a planner—a notebook of schedules and appointments that’s basically a paper copy of my Google Calendar. (As much as I love technology, I can't let go of my beloved planners.)
One planner tradition I started this year—I make a weekly note of “small wins.” Each week, I use a new Post-It to bookmark the date—it sticks out a bit so I can easily flip to the right week. At the end of the week, I write some small wins on the Post-it and tuck it into the page.
So as you flip through my planner, you'll see a confetti of different colored squares marking small wins. (Everything from, “Finally made that dentist appointment!” to “Booked a new keynote.”)
Little wins are dangerously easy to ignore—mile markers flying by as we run to our goals. But a quick nod to them helps us realize our progress—helps us celebrate how far we are along the journey.
And that's pretty Post-It worthy.
- Dr. Sarah Glova, Co-Editor of 8&21, Lifelong Fan of the Paper Planner
Experiencing time differently
The big moments are exciting. Just last week, I celebrated the class of 2023 finishing their master’s degrees. But, I am also practicing celebrating the small milestones.
Specifically, I’ve been focusing my energy on cultivating new experiences.
As we age, time seems to slip by faster and faster. Of course, one reason for that is that a year becomes a smaller and smaller portion of our life the older we get. But, research also tells us that having new experiences helps connect us to the present and makes our experience of time different.
Write a rough draft? Way to get started!
Finish a book? Gold star!
Ride a trike on the beach? Absolutely!
I am all for enjoying the comfort of traditions and revisiting favorites, but I also look for moments to celebrate the little milestones and try something new.
Dr. Sarah Egan Warren, Co-Editor of 8&21, Celebrator of New Experiences
See them
“Small wins can boost life in many ways. Yet, many of us don’t look for opportunities to celebrate our minor milestones. We deem them insignificant.
Or, we’re so focused on the future, we don’t see what’s right in front of us.
I invite you to train your brain tosee, appreciate and celebrate them.
When you shift your lens to focus on celebrating, winning and achieving rather than on preventing “what could go wrong,” you begin to lead yourself and others from a place of optimism.”
Adapted from Why We Need to Celebrate Minor Milestones, written for Forbes by Jody Michael, executive coach.
Less prepossessing
“Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved.
The real milestones are less prepossessing.
They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.”
- Susan B. Anthony, social reformer and activist
Pause is a free reflection journal created by the Editors of 8&21.
