Big Plans Start with Small Steps
Big Plans Start with Small Steps
My youngest turned one last month. In her first year, she gained 9kg (20 lbs), and I lost the same amount. When I shared this with a friend, they half-jokingly asked, “Is the chicken breast meat hard to eat?”—tempted to lose the same amount of weight themselves.
Here’s the thing—most advice on losing weight includes eating lean meats like chicken breast. It’s in every video and health tip. But when I first started working on losing my baby weight, I didn’t jump straight to advanced tactics like lean meats and perfectly portioned meals. It felt like too big a leap—from enjoying what I ate to dreading my meals before I even started eating. I gave up quickly and felt defeated, like I’d never be able to do this.
So I started over. This time, I kept it simple: eat high-protein foods and avoid carbs. It didn’t matter if it was dark meat or white meat—as long as I was eating more protein than carbs. My initial goal wasn’t just to lose weight; it was to make the process simple enough to see early results and build momentum. Once I started seeing progress, I felt ready for more advanced techniques—like swapping in tofu, paneer, or nuts for variety.
Why Starting Small Works
Big goals often fail because they overwhelm us before we even begin. Think about it: your brain craves reward and progress. Setting the bar too high from the start can feel overwhelming—like trying to leap a mountain before you've built the skills to climb it. The key is to aim high, but break it into smaller, achievable steps that set you up for success.
Psychologically, small steps activate the brain’s reward system, which motivates us to keep going. When you see early wins—like shedding the first few pounds, updating your resume, or organizing one corner of a messy room—it’s easier to believe the bigger goal is achievable.
This principle applies far beyond weight loss:
Career Advancement: Instead of aiming to land your dream job right away, start by reaching out to one new connection on LinkedIn or revising your resume to better reflect your achievements.
Healing Relationships: Instead of tackling years of unresolved conflict, focus on one small act of kindness or one honest conversation to rebuild trust.
Parenting: When overwhelmed by the chaos of raising kids, simplify. Focus on one quality time activity a week or one small improvement to bedtime routines.
When goals feel manageable, they become sustainable—and sustainability leads to success.
As the year comes to a close, take time to reflect on your routines:
Which ones no longer serve you?
Which ones could be simplified?
What new routines could help you reach your goals in 2025?
For me, I’ve decided to start with something simple: providing value to one person at a time. That’s why I started this newsletter. Instead of waiting for the “perfect” newsletter format or hundreds of clients, I chose to start now. Just like with weight loss, starting small helps build momentum—and I’m learning and growing along the way.
Every week, I aim to share one relatable insight that’s simple enough to consider implementing in your life or work. I’d love to hear from you:
What challenges are you facing?
What big goals are you working on for 2025?
