Celebrating the small wins

Today I’ve been pondering the art of celebrating the mini victories in life. When coaching clients, I’m all about popping confetti for those tiny triumphs. But I’m guilty of skipping my own victory dance now and then. It’s tough, right? With all the societal expectations — or that pesky inner critic — we often forget to give ourselves a pat on the back for the little things, just like we would for someone else. For many neurodivergent folks, celebrating small wins can feel especially difficult because our brains love to focus on what’s not done rather than what is.

Today, for example, I had a great day: I gained a new client, hopefully finished this blog post (still to be confirmed), replied to emails, paid some bills (ugh), and tackled a load of washing — all mixed in with a few other work‑related tasks. A productive day, right?

However, I didn’t see it that way because my brain did that thing where it says, “But you still have X, Y, and Z to do.” My brain likes to trick me into thinking that X, Y, and Z are the most important tasks and that I’ve made a mistake by prioritising the wrong things (facepalm). It’s a classic example of executive function overwhelm — where the unfinished tasks shout louder than the completed ones.

After a little time, I stopped and thought about how far I had come. Reflecting on how my brain used to argue with me over something like this, and how it used to affect me far more negatively, I realised that I can now pause and celebrate those important small wins.

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of learning about how my brain works, with plenty of support along the way. The journey of learning is endless — life loves to keep us on our toes — but I’ve gotten pretty good at giving my brain a friendly nudge when it steps out of line. The thoughts might still be there, but they don’t hold the same power they once did. This progress is due to a long list of things (I won’t bore you with the details — otherwise this would turn into a 20‑page blog post, and no one’s got time for that).

I just wanted to remind you how important it is to celebrate the small wins. For me, even managing to wash my hair counts as a victory — it’s a sensory ordeal, so yes, it’s a win! For many neurodivergent people, these “little” tasks are actually huge acts of self‑compassion and energy management.

So, what’s been your win today — big or small?