The small victories that make a huge difference in our daily lives

From finding a crisp $20 bill in an old jacket to finally finishing a TV series on the watchlist, the average person has four small wins a day, or 1,460 every year, according to research

A study of 2,004 Americans delved into the impact of life’s little successes and found that four in five have become more conscious of their small wins since the start of the pandemic.

However, millennials are most grateful for these tiny victories, as 85% reported an increase of awareness of small wins, compared to just 64% of baby boomers and 77% of Gen X Americans.

Conducted by OnePoll for TGI Fridays, the survey also found, though 87% find these wins to be crucial for powering through the day, nearly all millennials (90%) said they extract motivation from a small win, compared to just 75% of boomers.

As for the top small wins, Gen X (58%) and millennials (59%) are most enthusiastic about hearing new music for the first time, completing a self-care activity and other relaxing endeavors.

Meanwhile, baby boomers said completing chores, decorating for the season and other home-related goals are the most satisfying types of small wins to achieve.

And when it comes to self-care, 92% of all respondents explored different methods of maintaining personal wellness and 87% said recognizing small wins each day is a crucial form of self-care.

Nine in 10 said these small wins have a positive impact on their mental health and 82% agree they are the key to having a good day.

That’s likely the reason why 67% have made a conscious effort to recognize and celebrate them more, compared to before the pandemic.

However, more than twice as many millennials (86%) celebrate small wins than baby boomers.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the past two years, it’s how important it is for people to recognize every achievement in their life, both big and small,” said Sara Bittorf, Chief Experience Officer at TGI Fridays. “No matter the size of the achievement, we love bringing family and friends together to appreciate and celebrate the fun in every moment.”

Respondents also listed things such as paying off a bill or hitting a savings goal (56%), and sweet surprises like getting a free cup of coffee or finding a great parking spot (53%) as other small wins worth celebrating.

No matter the achievement, however, 82% said there’s no such thing as a win being “too small” to celebrate.

As 83% of people who celebrate small wins believe it only takes just one win to turn a bad day into a good one,

What are the best ways to celebrate small wins? Fifty-four percent said telling friends and family about small successes is the best way to savor it.

For those extra satisfying small wins, treating yourself to a fancy dinner or cocktail is another great way to celebrate, according to half.

“There is no better way to come together and celebrate those extra satisfying small wins than with craveable, indulgent food,” continued Bittorf.

WHAT ARE THE MOST SATISFYING SMALL WINS TO ACHIEVE?

• Relaxing (i.e., hearing new music for the first time, completing self-care activity, finishing watching a TV series) – 58%
• Finances (i.e., paying a bill off, achieving a savings goal) – 56%
• Home (i.e., completing chores, decorating for the season) – 53%
• Sweet surprises (i.e., free coffee, finding money in old clothes, getting the best parking spot) – 53%
• Food (i.e., trying a new food for the first time, discovering a new restaurant) – 51%
• Health (i.e., achieving a fitness goal) – 51%
• Personal growth (i.e., reading a new book, learning to cook a new dish) – 51%
• Work (i.e., arriving just in time, fixing a typo before hitting send, getting off early) – 43%

HOW HAVE AMERICANS BEEN PRACTICING SELF-CARE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC?

• Spending quality time with loved ones – 48%
• Not taking anything for granted – 42%
• Writing down goals, small wins big successes in a journal – 42%
• Exercising/doing yoga – 42%
• Spending more time outdoors – 40%
• Having more celebrations, even for small things – 40%
• Unplugging from social media – 32%