Why “Just a Little Bit” Is More Powerful Than You Think

I am someone who has long wrestled with an all-or-nothing mindset. Maybe you can relate? At first, I love the idea of structure: clear rules, a checklist, a defined routine. It feels good to have a plan. But the minute I “mess up,” even just a little, I throw the whole thing out. It’s like my brain says, “Well, that’s ruined. Might as well give up entirely.”

This pattern has shown up in so many areas of my life.

Take Whole30, for example-a program where you commit to cutting out sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy for 30 days. Sounds like a blast, doesn’t it? The first time I did it, I made it all the way through. Why? Probably because I started right after the holidays when I felt like a walking frosted sugar cookie. But the second time? I accidentally popped a breath mint, realized it had sugar, and immediately spiraled. I abandoned the whole plan right then and there. That one tiny misstep triggered something in me. If I couldn’t do it perfectly, I wasn’t going to do it at all.

Another example: The Miracle Morning. If you’ve read it, you know the author lays out six practices (SAVERS) designed to transform your mornings—and your life. Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (aka journaling). The structure was motivating, but also… a lot. I did it for a couple of weeks, and honestly? I felt amazing! But then one day I didn’t have time to do all six steps, so I didn’t do any of it. My perfectionist brain told me if I couldn’t check off every box, it didn’t count.

The truth is, I was cheating myself.
I could have just journaled for five minutes. Or read one page. Or simply taken three deep breaths. But something in me rejected the idea that a partial win still counts.

This mindset isn’t just unhelpful—it’s exhausting. And it’s everywhere.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to do it all right. To be the A+ student of wellness, productivity, motherhood, entrepreneurship, [insert role here]. And when we inevitably fall short of perfect, we collapse into guilt, shame, and/or avoidance.

But what if we gave ourselves permission to do it imperfectly?

What if 10% effort on a hard day is still worth celebrating?
What if skipping one workout doesn’t mean we “failed” our routine?
What if eating a sleeve of Oreos on a hard day doesn’t mean we “ruined” our health goals?

This is what I’m learning: Something is always better than nothing.

Doing just one part of your morning routine can still make your day feel more grounded. Drinking one glass of water still hydrates your body. Five minutes of movement still boosts your mood. Progress doesn’t require perfection-it requires consistency, compassion, and flexibility.

As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve been trying really hard to embody this.
I remind myself that doing any part is better than no part. So on mornings where I know I won’t be able to do my whole routine, I settle for what I need in the moment and (try) not to beat myself up for not doing it perfectly. Some days that looks like meditation and journaling. Other days, it’s just a quiet cup of tea before the emails start. And it still helps.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear: What’s one small thing you’re doing for yourself today?