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Confession: I’m a big believer in celebrating small changes. I got the idea while reading Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything (affiliate link) by BJ Fogg.
In addition to being a successful author and professor at Stanford, he is a lifetime WW, who also has provided consulting services to the company.
I’m a huge believer in his doable approach to behavior change and habit formation. I think you will be too once you test it out.

BJ says, “If you learn just one thing from this entire book, I hope it’s this, celebrate your tiny successes because you change best by feeling good, not by feeling bad.”
Related: Remember to Take Time to Celebrate Your Successes!
Making a change for the better is a big deal no matter how small and incremental. Don’t let the “go big or go home” mentality that pervades our society prevent you from feeling good and achieving the success you deserve.
Celebrating a win, no matter how tiny, will quickly lead to more wins.
I’ve found this to be very true in my life. I want the same for you.
Let’s give it a go, shall we?
“What tiny success did you celebrate today on your journey toward a happier, healthier life?”
Examples of Some of My Recent Tiny Successes Worth Celebrating:
- Took my daily vitamins (affiliate link).
- Chose water at lunch.
- Opted for soup and salad for lunch instead of something else.
- Skipped my evening sweet treat.
- Used my Instant Pot (affiliate link) to make hard boiled eggs.
- Did pushups after using bathroom (when at home)
- Took two short walks, mid afternoon and before dinner.
- Did my AM devotional.
- Didn’t snack while prepping dinner.
- Didn’t get into the pretzel bag when in the pantry.
- Got to bed on time.

How to Celebrate Your Tiny Habit Successes?
Celebrating tiny wins is key to locking in habits quickly and can help put an end to the all too damaging cycle of negative self-talk. Your celebration does not have to be something you say out loud or physically express.
The only rule is that it has to be something said or done — internally or externally — that makes you feel good and creates a feeling of success.
It could be a “yes!”; a fist pump; a big smile; a V with your arms. You might imagine the roar of the crowd; think to yourself “Good job” or “I got this”; or picture fireworks.
Here are 102 ideas for how to celebrate your tiny wins:
- Fist pump
- Say “yippee!”
- Clap your hands
- Sing “I am the champion”
- Pat yourself on the back
- Smile and feel satisfied
- Stamp feet
- Say “whoohoo!”
- Do a wink and smile
- Smile at yourself in mirror
- Say “yes”
- Say “yes I did it!”
- Say “way to go!”
- Think “that was awesome”
- Say “I rock”
- Do a jig
- Give myself a high-five
- Feel an inner glow
- Adopt a victory posture
- Head nod
- A thumbs up
- Feel gratitude
- Feel appreciation
- Say “right on!”
- Make a check-mark in air
- Finger snap
- Say “yay!”
- Say “great job!”
- Hear trumpets in my head
- Say “well done”
- Say “good job”
- Sing “Celebrate good times”
- Both arms up and think victory!
- Say a chant and clap – This is the way, aha, aha! I like it, aha, aha!
- Shout “Come on!”
- Big smile
- Say “well done”
- Rotate hips & say whoohoo
- Make superhero noises
- Jump up and down
- Do a little shuffle
- Smirk
- Think “that is awesome”
- Victory sign
- Applaud
- Do a victory dance
- Say “bingo”
- Say “yay me!”
- Think “nicely done”
- Think “nailed it!”
- Hear roaring crowds
- Laugh out loud
- Feel happy
- Move your face to be happy
- Fist pump + awesome
- Say “I’m on my way!”
- Click heels together
- Spin around
- Clench fists and say “yes”
- Kung Fu Kid pose
- Do the Ickey Shuffle
- Do cheers to yourself
- Say “go me”
- Snap your fingers
- Do the hula
- Say “whoop whoop”
- Say “shazam!”
- Head up, look to the sky and make a V with arms
- Rub hands together
- Whistle a song
- Breath out and say “yes”
- Sing “Simply the best”
- Do power poses
- “Got this one” finger snap
- Take a bow
- Throw something in air
- Think of a pleasing moment
- Twist on one foot
- Spin around
- Shout “strike”
- End zone dance
- Raise both arms – “score!”
- Blow a kiss to yourself
- Wiggle your whole body
- Hum a song
- Jump up and click heels
- Hip thrust + “yes”
- Cartwheels
- Short tap dance
- Hug yourself
- Take a thumbs up selfie
- Sprinkler dance
- Tap fist to heart 3 times
- Hi-five nearest person
- Howl
- Jump from one foot to other
- Do the twist
- Imagine seeing fireworks
- Raise the roof
- Smile and have a positive thought
- Jump up & down with hands up
- Sing “hey now, you’re arock star”





My co-workers decided to order out for lunch. I stuck with the lunch I brought from home. Even though what they were eating looked and smelled divine, I was proud of myself for taking the healthier option.
I stayed focused on hydration and I’ve lost five pounds!!
A tiny success that has made a HUGE change in my life is learning how to and faithfully using My Fitness Pal. Over the past 2 years, I have lost 110 pounds. I track not only my calories, but the grams of the protein, carbs and fat. I use the recipe function to load recipes (many of which come from this website and can be electronically populated) so I know EXACTLY what I am consuming. Rather than guessing and “thinking” I am eating what I should, I now KNOW. KNOWING is much more powerful than hoping/thinking. Hope this helps!
I have been walking from home every day to the bus stop and getting off at an earlier stop and walking the rest of the way to work. It is a great way to start the day
The tiny thing I did today to help my weight loss is I took a short break in the afternoon before I got too tired — thus, hungry.
Discovered that Cracker Barrel has chicken tenders 4/2pts. With green beans and salad just 3 pts. No dressing in salad. I discovered I like my salad with just salt and pepper.
I had an awful day today, but fought the urge to give in to emotional eating
Went to my WW weigh in today – only down 0.2 lbs, but that’s a good week!
Today I wore a new pair of dress pant four sizes smaller than I wore at Christmas!
Realizing I am content with smaller portions.