Nearly every game these days has a leveling system to show that every action you’re taking moves you toward your goal.

In the book The Progress Principle, authors Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer show that we humans get hooked on the good feeling that comes as a result of making small steps towards a desired goal. In a video game, the path from Zero to Hero is clearly defined. Knowing what to do next is simple: kill enough bad guys, complete the right quests, and you know you’ll move forward and meet your goal.

How can you incorporate small wins and show yourself that you are making progress and “leveling up” in your real life? Try breaking down your major goal into small goals that you can cross off a daily list and rewarding yourself with a prize after completing a certain number of quests that help you build even more momentum.