Small Wins, Big Momentum

Building new habits is tough. Case in point: this blog. I haven’t kept the promise of a weekly post to myself—or to any readers—and I want to acknowledge that. I know there isn’t anyone upset, because I don’t really have a readership yet, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to apply myself more consistently.

Why? Because I truly want to improve the health of others through words and effort. Even if it’s just one person, that’s better than none. So with that said, thank you for reading, and let’s get to the main purpose of this post.

Habits are hard to build because we’re essentially changing the chemical processes in our brains. We’re forcing ourselves out of our comfort zones and carving out time for something that doesn’t yet feel “natural.” As we head into the new year, many of you will be thinking about habits you want to build—or lose. These usually show up as goals.

You’ve probably set goals before. Pause for a moment and think about how many you’ve actually achieved versus how many you haven’t. It likely leans toward the latter—and that’s okay. You’re human. You have a lot going on. I get it.

So this year, try something different. Challenge yourself to create one goal for the first half of the year and one for the second half. Motivating yourself to complete even one goal is hard enough, so let’s simplify it.

Each goal should be one line of text with a clear start and end date. Make it realistic. Then think about what’s stopping you from achieving it. Write that down too. Do the same process for the second goal.

Put it somewhere physical—your notes app, a journal, a sticky note. Just don’t leave it floating in your head. Read it out loud. Then list the hurdles in bullet points. No more than five. If there are more than that, the goal is probably not obtainable in its current form.

Now here’s the part people usually question: keep it to yourself. Why? Because outside input often morphs your goals. People may mean well, but they’ll try to reshape your goal into something that fits their version of success. This goal isn’t theirs—it’s yours.

Then get to work on it today. This is arguably the most important part.

Why? Because momentum beats motivation. Ever watch a sporting event? Commentators talk about momentum all the time—but it’s usually brief and situational. Momentum is powerful in spurts, but it’s not meant to be the consistent driving force behind a goal.

Motivation is what kicks in when momentum fades. Momentum helps you accelerate; motivation is the engine. Starting early and showing up often activates both.

Have a “why” for your goal. It can be simple—like wanting to prove to yourself that you can do it—or complex, like confronting something you’ve been avoiding. Whatever it is, focus on it and attack it.

You’ll have days where you don’t move forward. That’s okay. Get back to it the next hour or the next day. You’ll have doubters—turn them into believers. You’ll second-guess yourself. You’ll face hurdles. You might not even achieve the goal.

But do not give up without giving it your all.

Your “all” means being honest with yourself—every single day—about the effort you’re putting in. No excuses. Just honesty.

Every day is a blessing. Each new year we experience is simply a collection of those blessings and the beginning of new ones. Whether you complete your goals in 2026 or not (which you will), the real win is improving yourself just a little each day.

Life is short—even when it feels long and overwhelming. Focus on what truly matters. Enjoy the small moments. Take care of yourself. Embrace the time we have.

Thank you for reading. Happy holidays, and until next time—talk to you soon.