Micro-steps

Micro-steps are approaching a goal through the smallest and most easily doable moves. A large change is often frightening and makes one postpone; a ridiculously small first step, however, gets the action started. Instead of "I will exercise," "today I will just put on my shoes and walk for five minutes" is easier to keep. Teresa Amabile's work on the "progress principle" shows how small wins feed motivation. Once the first small step is taken, the ones that follow usually become easier.