Achieving goals and making life changes can be hard, but taking small steps can make it easier. Breaking down any goal or change into smaller pieces makes the process less daunting and more achievable.
It’s also important to reward yourself for even the smallest accomplishment along the way. Research has shown that small rewards are more effective than large rewards when trying to make positive life changes.
When attempting to create a healthier lifestyle, I found it helpful to set small benchmarks for myself each week. I would decide upon a few manageable tasks that were achievable within a week’s time-frame, such as going on a daily 30 minute run or drinking 8 glasses of water per day.
Each milestone was celebrated with something small – like an afternoon coffee break – instead of something large like buying myself new clothes or shoes in celebration of meeting my larger goal.
Small rewards can be more effective than big rewards.
Recent studies have shown that small rewards can be more effective in creating lasting change than big ones.
This study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, was based on the idea that the small pleasures of life can motivate people to make bigger changes and build a better lifestyle.
The research involved splitting participants into two groups and giving each a goal to achieve. The first group was rewarded with a large prize every time they were successful, while the second group was rewarded with much smaller prizes throughout their journey.
At the end of their journey, despite both groups having similar success rates in achieving their goals, those who had been given smaller rewards experienced more satisfaction and greater motivation for long-term change.
