Why breaking big goals into tiny steps powers lasting change

You’ve just set a massive goal—the kind that makes your heart race and your stomach clench. Your brain buzzes with ambition, but right after that, you flash back to all the times you bit off more than you could chew. That’s where the three-step method drills in and rescues you.

First, you Strategize. Picture a giant adult coloring book, each empty box begging for a splash of color. Instead of staring blankly at the page, you break the picture into tiny sections—every goal becomes a small, separate shape. You plan exactly which section you’ll color first, no more than you can handle in a single sitting.

Next, you Focus. You set aside a block of time, shut off notifications, and dive into one mini-chunk. The marker’s plastic smell mixes with the hum of your laptop fan. For two minutes, two hours, or two days, all you do is fill that one box. The entire masterpiece doesn’t matter until that section is complete.

Finally, you Commit. Day after day, you color in one new box. You watch the sea of color expand across your fridge or wall calendar. Each filled square is a win, a little dopamine hit that fuels your next move. Your confidence builds. Over time, you realize this is not just an exercise in coloring—it’s a neuroscience-backed way to rewire your brain for progress.

Small wins add up. You’re no longer paralyzed by the size of your dream. You’re methodical, consistent, and seeing real change. It’s all thanks to dividing a mammoth task into bite-size chunks, focusing on one piece at a time, and steadily committing until the whole thing is done.

You begin by naming your most ambitious goal and writing it at the top of your calendar. Next, you slice that big dream into specific mini-missions—think saving one week’s expenses or drafting one chapter. Then you block off short, focused time to tackle each mission, whether it’s ten minutes or an hour. As you complete each mission, you cross it off or color it in—your visual progress tracker—which keeps you motivated to move on to the next chunk. Give it a try tonight.