Shrink the Change, Small Wins

I feel like I'm always referencing the same books, but there are a lot of very applicable ideas in them (the current book I'm listening to isn't as directly applicable).

Switch discusses an idea called "Shrink the Change" - basically saying that if we can break the change down to make it seem less intimidating, we're more likely to get started on it. The authors give a lot of interesting examples ranging from marketing and business strategies to personal routines. One example was the five-minute house clean up. Instead of trying to clean everything, just tell yourself you'll clean for five minutes. This is much more doable, and often leads you to do more anyway.
A different but related concept is discussed in The Power of Habit. The author discusses how small wins can give you a little dopamine boost, which then makes future success more achievable. Small wins form what he calls "keystone habits" - those habits that build success which then make success possible in other, un-related areas of life. Keystone habits range from making the bed, to exercising, to budgeting.

So what does this have to do with parenting? I observed both of these concepts playing out with my dad dashboard, particularly the bedtime scores. I shrunk the change by just focusing on one night at a time. I created small wins for myself by getting the three stars. I found them motivating, and the success seemed to build on itself. Small successes create the momentum needed for bigger wins.

Moral of the story: Create and seek for small wins. Celebrate the little things.