Hands up if you’ve been here: You set out aiming for a perfect, hugely productive day. We’re talking every task ticked, every email sent, a glorious clean desk, and maybe even having had time to make an appearance at the gym…Then, life happens.
The kids needed a last-minute lift, the internet went down, or an awkward customer (or even colleague) drains your energy. Suddenly, you’ve skipped your planned workout and your morning focus is long forgotten, it isn’t even a memory anymore, it has just vanished.
And what do you end up telling yourself? “Well, the day’s ruined now. I might as well just take a look at my social media, potter about or even just give up.”
That, is the dangerous trap of chasing the Flawless Day Unicorn.
Ditch the Unicorn (It Doesn’t Exist Anyway)
The idea of a perfect, glitch-free day is not only exhausting but utterly counterproductive. When we demand perfection, the first tiny wobble makes us feel like total failures, which in turn gives us permission to stop trying altogether. It’s an all-or-nothing mindset that’s pretty much guaranteed to end up in failure or eventually complete burnout.
Instead, let’s champion a better hero: The One Small Win.
The Unstoppable Power of a Small Win
A small win is the tiny, achievable thing that moves your personal or professional life forward, no matter how chaotic the world around you is. It’s a low-stakes victory that gives you a genuine boost of confidence.
You don’t need a flawless day to have a successful one. You just need to land your one small win.
So, what counts as a Small Win?
- Sending that one tricky email you’ve been avoiding for days or even weeks.
- Completing the first 15 minutes of the huge project you’re dreading.
- Actually opening your Journal and planning your day (that’s a win in itself, it would be amazing for us if that was the GSD Journal…but any notepad will do!).
- Having a five-minute stretch instead of sitting glued to your chair.
- Making a proper cup of tea and enjoying it without multitasking.
- Clearing the dirty dishes before you got to bed (hello, clear morning!).
Why This Little Victory is a Big Deal
The ‘one small win’ is your secret weapon because of three brilliant things it does:
1. It Kicks Off Momentum 🚀
Checking off a small win floods your brain with dopamine. That little burst of feel-good juice makes you think, “Hang on, I’m good at this! What’s the next little thing I can conquer?” It flips your day from “failure mode” to “progress mode.”
2. It’s Failure-Proof 💪
If the day goes sideways after you’ve achieved your win, you still won! You are not derailed. You went to bed knowing you moved something forward. That’s resilience in action, and it means tomorrow starts on a positive note, not a recovery mission.
3. It Fosters Consistency 📈
It’s much easier to be consistent with a low-pressure target. You can hit a ‘one small win’ every single day. And remember: Consistency, not intensity or perfection, is how big goals are truly achieved.
Your Challenge: Find Your Win
Forget the unicorn. At the start of your day, look at your list and ask yourself:
“If I only achieve one single thing today, what will make me feel genuinely good and move me forward?”
Find that one small win, and do it first. Then, anything else you manage is a wonderful bonus.
You’ve got this. Now go get that one thing done…and feel free to let us know in the comments below what your small win is going to be (or was if you have already ticked it off) that will make you feel better.
GET STUFF DONE 
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