Small Wins Examples: 50+ Real Ways to Track Your Daily Progress

When I first started tracking small wins, I had zero idea what actually qualified. I sat there staring at a blank screen thinking “what even counts as a win?”

And that question, it turns out, is exactly the problem.

We’ve been trained to think that only the big stuff matters. The promotion. The completed project. The weight loss goal. The published book. And when we measure our days against those massive milestones, we end up feeling like we’re getting nowhere even when we’re actually making real progress.

So here’s what I learned after using the Small Wins Method app for a month and a half: everything counts. Every single thing you start, finish, or commit to is proof that you moved forward. And I’m going to show you exactly what that looks like across four different types of wins.

The Four Types of Small Wins

Before we dive into the examples, you need to understand that not all wins are the same. In the Small Wins Method, we track four different categories because your inner critic attacks you in four different ways.

Wins are proof of your action. These are the things you started, finished, or committed to. Your critic says you never follow through. These are the facts that prove otherwise.

Compliments are proof of your self-worth. These are moments of genuine self-praise. Your critic says you’re not good enough. These acknowledgments shut that down.

Encouragements are proof of your resilience. These are the truths you tell yourself to keep going. Your critic tries to stop you. These keep you moving.

Gratitude is proof of your resources. These are the tools, people, and things that support you. Your critic says you’re alone. This proves you’re not.

Now let’s get into the actual examples.

Wins: Proof You Took Action

These are probably what you think of when you hear “small wins.” But I promise you, they’re smaller and more specific than you think.

Work Wins

• • Sent that difficult email you’ve been putting off

• • Responded to one message in your inbox

• • Showed up to the meeting on time

• • Asked a clarifying question instead of staying confused

• • Declined a meeting that wasn’t necessary

• • Took a full lunch break instead of eating at your desk

• • Closed your laptop at a reasonable time

• • Organized your desktop (even if it gets messy again tomorrow)

• • Made progress on a project, even if you didn’t finish it

• • Said “I don’t know” instead of pretending you had the answer

Personal Wins

• • Got out of bed when you really didn’t want to

• • Took a shower

• • Changed into clean clothes

• • Drank a glass of water

• • Ate something that wasn’t just snacks

• • Took your medication

• • Called someone back

• • Paid one bill

• • Made your bed (this one’s controversial but I’m team “it counts”)

• • Threw away the trash that was sitting next to the trash can

Health Wins

• • Took a deep breath when you felt overwhelmed

• • Stretched for 30 seconds

• • Walked to your mailbox

• • Went to bed before midnight

• • Didn’t scroll social media for the first 10 minutes after waking up

• • Scheduled that doctor’s appointment you’ve been avoiding

• • Actually went to that doctor’s appointment

• • Took a break when your body asked for one

• • Chose rest over productivity guilt

Creative/Learning Wins

• • Opened the document you’re working on

• • Wrote one sentence

• • Sketched one thing

• • Practiced your instrument for 5 minutes

• • Read one page of that book

• • Watched an educational video

• • Fixed one bug in your code

• • Learned one new thing, no matter how small

Here’s something important: notice how specific these are? “I worked on my project” is vague. Your inner critic can argue with that. But “I spent 30 focused minutes writing” is specific and undeniable. That’s the difference.

Compliments: Proof of Your Self-Worth

This category makes people uncomfortable. We’re really bad at complimenting ourselves. We think it’s conceited or unnecessary. But when your inner critic is screaming that you’re not enough, having documented proof that you acknowledged your own value is powerful.

These don’t have to be deep. They just have to be honest.

• • I look good in this outfit today

• • I handled that conversation really well

• • I’m proud of myself for trying

• • You’re doing your best and that’s enough right now

• • I like my handwriting today

• • I made someone smile and that matters

• • I’m being really patient with myself

• • You showed up even when it was hard

• • I’m getting better at this

• • I deserve to take up space

• • You’re doing this. Look at you go.

• • I’m proud of how I responded to that frustration

• • I actually like this thing I made

• • I’m being brave right now

• • You’re a whole snack (yes, this counts, and yes, I’ve used it)

The key with compliments is they need to feel genuine. Don’t write something you don’t believe. But also, don’t wait until you feel like you “deserve” a compliment. Just notice something true and kind about yourself and write it down.

Encouragements: Proof of Your Resilience

When things get hard, your brain loves to tell you that you should just quit. Encouragements are the truths you tell yourself to keep going. They’re not toxic positivity. They’re real reminders of your actual strength.

• • I have done hard things before and I can do hard things again

• • I am exactly where I need to be right now

• • This feeling is temporary

• • I trust myself to figure this out

• • I don’t have to know everything today

• • It’s okay to move slowly

• • I am allowed to change my mind

• • I am learning as I go and that’s how it works

• • Rest is part of the process, not failure

• • I am smart enough to learn what I don’t know yet

• • I can ask for help and that doesn’t make me weak

• • This is uncomfortable but I’m doing it anyway

• • I’ve survived 100% of my worst days so far

• • I am building something even when I can’t see it yet

• • Good enough is actually good enough

These hit different when you’re having a rough day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scrolled back through my own encouragements and found exactly what I needed to hear.

Gratitude: Proof of Your Resources

Your inner critic wants you to think you’re on your own. Gratitude proves you have tools, people, and support, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

And before you roll your eyes thinking this is going to be a “gratitude journal” lecture, hold on. These aren’t about forcing yourself to be thankful for everything. They’re about noticing the actual resources that helped you get through your day.

• • I’m grateful for this coat that’s keeping me warm right now

• • My coffee was really good this morning

• • I appreciate that my friend texted to check on me

• • I’m thankful my phone alarm went off so I didn’t oversleep

• • The sun came through my window and made my workspace brighter

• • I have clean water to drink and that matters

• • My partner made dinner tonight and I didn’t have to think about it

• • I’m grateful for the person who held the door for me

• • My bed is comfortable and I get to sleep in it tonight

• • I appreciate that I have internet access right now

• • My body is working even when it doesn’t feel perfect

• • I’m thankful for my therapist and the work we’re doing

• • The playlist I found today was exactly what I needed

• • I’m grateful I can afford this medication

Notice how these aren’t all deep or profound? They don’t have to be. Sometimes the thing that got you through the day was just really good coffee. That counts.

What Makes a Small Win Actually Work

I wish I could say everything counts and call it a day. But here’s what I’ve learned from actually using this method: some ways of tracking help you build proof, and some don’t.

The difference isn’t about being “right” or “wrong.” It’s about what actually helps you argue with your inner critic.

Be specific enough to be undeniable. “I did stuff today” is too vague. Your critic can dismiss that. But “I responded to three emails” is concrete. That’s the difference.

Watch out for toxic productivity patterns. If you find yourself celebrating “I only slept 4 hours but got so much done,” pause. That’s not a win, that’s harm. Rest itself is worth celebrating. Sleep is a win.

Keep the focus on you, not comparisons. “I did better than my coworker” isn’t about your progress, it’s about someone else’s. Your wins are about documenting your own movement forward, not measuring yourself against other people.

Don’t minimize what you did. When you catch yourself writing “I guess I did okay but it wasn’t that good,” that’s not a compliment. You don’t have to write anything you don’t believe, but if you did something worth noting, own it.

How to Use These Examples

Okay so you’ve read through all these examples. Now what?

Here’s what I do.

At the end of each day (or honestly, whenever I remember), I open the Small Wins Method app and I record at least one thing from each category. Some days I have 20 entries. Some days I have 4. Both are fine.

The point isn’t to document every single thing you do. The point is to create proof that you’re making progress. When your inner critic starts up with “you never get anything done,” you can pull up your wins and say “actually, here’s the evidence.”

It changes the argument from your word against your inner critic’s word to documented facts. And facts are really hard to argue with.

Start Small

If you’re sitting here thinking “I have to track all four categories every single day or I’m failing,” stop. That’s your perfectionism talking, and that’s exactly what the Small Wins Method is designed to fight against.

Start with one category. Pick the one that feels easiest or most relevant. For me, I started with wins because they felt the most straightforward. Other people start with gratitude because it feels less vulnerable than complimenting themselves.

There’s no wrong way to do this as long as you’re actually doing it.

The Real Goal

Here’s what I want you to understand. The goal of tracking small wins isn’t to become more productive. It’s not about optimizing your life or hustling harder or proving something to anyone else.

The goal is to stop arguing with yourself about whether you’re making progress.

When you have weeks of documented wins, compliments, encouragements, and gratitude, your inner critic loses its power. Not because the critic goes away (it probably won’t), but because you have proof that contradicts everything it’s saying.

You’re not starting from scratch every day. You’re not getting nowhere. You’re not failing. You’re building something, one small win at a time, and you have the evidence to prove it.

So yeah, getting out of bed counts. Drinking water counts. Sending that email counts. Taking a deep breath counts.

It all counts.

And the sooner you start documenting it, the sooner you’ll have proof of the progress you’re already making.

Ready to start tracking your own small wins? Download the Small Wins Method app (no sign up required, no ads, completely private) or grab the Small Wins Method workbook for a structured way to document your daily progress.

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