Slow Progress is Still Progress: Celebrating the Little Wins

Staring at the Loading Screen

When Progress Feels Invisible

Sometimes it feels like I’ve been staring at the same loading screen forever, but little by little, that bar is moving. Starting something new can feel frustratingly slow, or even like nothing is happening at all. For me, with One Big Side Quest, it sometimes feels like the growth isn’t happening. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t because it most certainly is!

The Pressure to Keep Up

Algorithms, Comparisons, and Full-Time Life

I’m constantly navigating algorithms and trying to post consistently enough to stay visible. Balancing that with a full work week is exhausting. One of the hardest things is not comparing myself to others. I see people posting multiple times a day with high-quality content, and it can be discouraging. It sometimes feels like I’ll never reach a level where my work is seen beyond friends and family. That said, I am so incredibly grateful for the support I do have!

Recently, my biggest pacing challenge has been adjusting my content to fit around my work schedule. During the summer, I could write and create whenever I wanted, but now I have to work around my job. By the time I get home, the motivation to write, edit, and post something new can feel far away. Saturdays are my most productive days, but even then, I feel the pressure to rush through everything.

Finding My Rhythm with This Slow Progress

XP Gains, One Note at a Time

Despite the struggles, I’ve definitely leveled up a bit. I’m slowly finding my rhythm again. I’ve lowered my posting frequency, but I’m noticing more motivation on days I normally wouldn’t write. I’m keeping track of ideas in my notes app and clearing out old TikTok drafts. These small progress points really start to add up like XP in a game.

Celebrating Small Wins

Little Wins Add Up

It’s important to celebrate all progress, not just the huge milestones. I was stuck in a TikTok rut, which discouraged me from posting, but posting less has actually been beneficial. My views are surpassing the 200-view range and slowly climbing back toward 1,000. That may not sound like much, but it’s a reminder to notice the small victories!

Even more exciting, my live action How to Train Your Dragon blog has become one of my most viewed posts. Forty people read my thoughts on that movie! Again, that might not seem like a lot to some, but to me, it’s huge. Celebrating these little moments keeps me motivated to write week after week.

Side Quests Along the Way

Where One Blog Can Lead

I have so many different “side quests” that all stemmed from this one little blog. When I started, I wanted an avenue that could go anywhere...and I mean anywhere! Instagram and Facebook let me share little life snippets, TikTok showcases my thrifting and short-form content, and YouTube houses my cozy gaming videos (and someday, other long-form content!).

All of these are in progress and that’s perfectly okay. Not everything needs to be polished from the start. The journey itself is part of the fun.

Encouragement for Your Own Journey

Even a Loading Bar Moves Forward

My encouragement to you is to take a moment to reflect on your own slow-but-steady progress. Whether it’s personal growth or a project you’re working on, there’s something in your life that may feel stagnant, but I promise, progress is happening.

It doesn’t need to be fast to matter, and every small step is worth celebrating. The loading bar might move slowly, but it’s moving all the same.

---

Your Side Quest:

What’s one small side quest you’ve been quietly working on lately, and how have you seen tiny progress add up?