Do you reward yourself for your accomplishments?
It is important that we take the time to celebrate even our small victories.
By marking these successes, we make them stick out in our minds. It forces us to acknowledge our progress and increases the likelihood we’ll repeat the positive behavior in the future.
So, go ahead and treat yourself for all your victories, even the small ones!
Suggested ways to celebrate small victories
Did you have a good day at work today? Did you finish a noteworthy project or deliver a good presentation? Did you close a sale?
For my stay-at-home moms, did you survive another day with a toddler? Did the kids get to and from school on time? Did you finish a household chore?
Whatever your goals, be sure to recognize your victories. Here are some ideas for ways to celebrate:
1. Buy yourself a banana split from your favorite ice cream store.
2. Give yourself permission to take a day off and relax.
3. Get a latte at Starbucks. Mocha is my choice!
4. Take an hour and listen to some of your favorite music.
5. Go to lunch with your best friend.
6. Buy yourself a new shirt.
7. Throw an impromptu dinner party.
8. Perform a random act of kindness.
9. Grill yourself a steak out on the barbeque.
10. Go for a walk in the woods.
11. Bake a pan of brownies and share them with friends.
12. Go on a date to that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.
13. Have a tall frozen margarita.
14. Eat a chocolate bar, preferably with almonds.
15. Call your parents and brag a little.
16. Race a go-kart for the thrill of it.
17. Spend a couple of hours alone in a beautiful place.
18. Meet someone new at a social gathering.
19. Take a weekend road trip.
20. Drink a large cherry limeade.
21. Get yourself an iPod.
22. Take a long nap.
23. Go see an inspiring movie.
24. Share a bottle of champagne with your spouse.
25. Give everyone in your family a big hug and kiss!
Small victories are worth celebrating too!
Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list of ways to celebrate, but it should give you plenty of ideas for how to treat yourself. Making your victories special will make them memorable so, go ahead and pat yourself on the back once in awhile. You deserve it!
Photo by -Dario-
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Jeff, what a bunch of great ideas! I never reward myself. I think I am too busy to take the time. This made me stop and think this morning about what I am missing. Thanks.
P.S. My favorite is: 25 – Give everyone in your family a big hug and kiss!
Read Stephen – Rat Race Trap´s latest article – 17 Ways to Achieve Heroic Goals
@Stephen – I really think it is important to recognize your own victories. It doesn’t take a lot of time to do so, but the dividends are tremendous!
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the list!
Ah thanks for the motivation
yeah small small happy moments matter more than bigger once in a decade ones.
I am going to watch a movie now
Super important concept Jeff,
If we don’t celebrate the small accomplishments we will push those good feelings into the future somewhere. We would actually be postponing happiness and attaching it to some distant event. Celebrating is an important way to express self-approval, something we need to stay motivated.
Read Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s latest article – There is No Overnight Success
What a great list of fun rewards!
I like to treat myself to a movie or spend some time doing a craft project…I’m also big on your #22 – take a long nap!
Hey Jeff, in this day and age any form of patting yourself on the back is frowned upon as egotistical and proud. Hell with that, pat yourself on the back all you want, I believe
Love this post!
Read Albert | UrbanMonk.Net´s latest article – Good vs. Evil – How To Polarize With Love Instead Of Fear
@deb – Glad to hear that you are rewarding yourself!
@Jonathan – Self-approval. I guess celebrating does acknowledge that you’re happy with yourself. I like it!
@Laurie – Rewards don’t have to be expensive to be enjoyable. It is usually the little things that don’t require a lot of prep work that we get the most pleasure from.
@Albert – Agreed. You have to take care of yourself to have the energy to take care of others.
Thanks for all your great input!
I really like these ideas. It is important to celebrate those small victories in order to keep your focus and motivation up for those larger goals.
Read JWRmedia´s latest article – Apple Wants To Own The Term “Pod”