In a world where messages of instant gratification and overnight success bombard us, it can be easy to overlook the power of incremental progress. Incremental progress, or making tiny, incremental improvements over time, is an incredibly effective way to achieve our goals, build new habits, and make lasting life changes. Without awareness, a lack of acceptance of incremental progress keeps us from making any. We want to achieve everything we desire now. When things take time, we get discouraged and stop working toward them. There are many benefits to embracing incremental progress. Let us explore a few of the most compelling reasons to adopt this mindset.
It builds momentum. One of the most beneficial perks of incremental progress is that it builds momentum. When we make tiny, consistent improvements over time, we begin to see results, which motivates us to keep going. This positive feedback loop can be incredibly advantageous. It helps us achieve our goals faster and with less effort. For example, if our goal is to run a marathon, starting with a 5-minute run daily can be a great way to build momentum and progress toward your larger goal. As we build up our endurance and see progress, we’ll be more motivated to continue, and eventually, we’ll run the full marathon.
It reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed. When we focus on making small, manageable changes, we are less likely to become overwhelmed, lose confidence, then give up. By breaking our larger goals down into smaller, more achievable tasks, we will make progress without feeling like we have to do everything at once. If our goal is to write a book, breaking it down into smaller tasks like writing for 10 minutes a day, outlining one chapter per week, or editing one page per day can make the goal much more manageable.
It will encourage consistency. Consistency is critical for achieving our goals, building new habits, and making lasting changes. Incremental progress encourages consistency by making it easier to stay on track. Focusing on making tiny, consistent improvements over time, we will stick with our habits and achieve our goals. For example, if your goal is to meditate daily, starting with just one minute per day can be a great way to build consistency. As we become more comfortable with the habit, we can gradually increase the meditation time, but by starting small, we’re more likely to stick with it.
Finally, embracing incremental progress can help us cultivate a growth mindset. A growth mindset is a belief that our abilities and intelligence develop over time, and that we can learn and improve through hard work and perseverance. When we focus on incremental improvements over time, we are reinforcing the belief that we can grow and improve. By celebrating our progress and recognizing the effort we’ve put in, we can develop a more positive and resilient mindset that can help us tackle challenges and achieve our goals.
In closing, embracing incremental progress is a powerful way to achieve our goals, build positive habits, and make lasting life changes. By focusing on small, manageable changes, we build momentum, reduce overwhelm, encourage consistency, and foster a growth mindset. The next time we’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, remember the power of incremental progress and take small steps toward our goals. Yes, we want to achieve everything we set out to accomplish, but attempting to chase everything at once will likely have us end up with nothing. Let’s embrace steady progress over stagnation.
Food for thought. You do the dishes!
