Lessons from a Month of Closed Apple Watch Rings
Success Isn’t Built in a Day - It’s Built Daily
We’ve all heard the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” But what often gets left out is the equally important follow-up: “...but they were laying bricks every hour.”
In February, I took on what seemed like a simple challenge: close all my Apple Watch activity rings every single day for 28 days. No exceptions.
The Challenge Begins
On day one, I had questions: Can I do this? Why should I do this? Does this goal even make sense for me? What’s going to make this hard?
Reality check: By day seven, I was already second-guessing my commitment.
That 10 PM panic when I realized I still needed 100 more calories to close my Move ring? Yep, that happened—more than once. My husband got used to seeing me jog in place while brushing my teeth. I started taking unnecessary trips up and down the stairs while on phone calls. The dogs, all nestled in for bed, would tilt their heads in confusion as I paced the bedroom in my slippers.
When Small Actions Become Significant
Something shifted around day ten. Instead of scrambling to meet my goal at night, I started planning my days differently:
A morning walk became part of my routine.
I took the stairs without a second thought.
I suggested walking meetings instead of sitting in front of a screen.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just meeting my goal - I was exceeding it with ease. What started as a personal fitness challenge was quietly rewriting my daily habits.
The Science Behind the Streak
There’s real psychology at work here. Each closed ring triggered a hit of dopamine - that feel-good neurotransmitter that reinforces behavior. The visual progress, the celebratory notifications, the unbroken streak all of it tapped into powerful motivational systems in my brain.
And this isn’t just fitness-related. Studies show that tracking progress, breaking goals into smaller chunks, and receiving immediate feedback dramatically increase success rates - in business, leadership, and personal growth.
Beyond Fitness: The Leadership Connection
By the end of the month, I saw clear parallels between closing rings and effective leadership:
Consistency trumps intensity. My moderate, daily exercise yielded better results than my previous pattern of intense weekend workouts followed by days of inactivity. Similarly, the leader who provides consistent, ongoing feedback creates more growth than the one who saves everything for annual reviews.
What gets measured gets improved. The simple act of tracking my movement made me move more. The same principle applies to business metrics, team performance, and personal development goals.
Visibility creates accountability. Those rings were visible on my wrist all day, every day. I couldn't hide from them. How might our teams perform differently if our key performance indicators were equally visible?
Celebration matters. The little fireworks animation when closing a ring became surprisingly motivating. Do we celebrate small wins with our teams, or only acknowledge the major milestones?
The February Results
By the end of February, here’s what happened:
✅ 28/28 days with all rings closed
✅ Daily step count up 43%
✅ Better sleep quality
✅ Lost 3 pounds without changing my diet
But the real impact wasn’t in the numbers. I felt stronger, had more energy, and developed habits that now feel effortless.
The Bigger Lesson
The most profound takeaway wasn’t about fitness - it was about how transformation actually happens.
It’s not about grand gestures or short bursts of intensity. It’s about small, consistent actions that compound over time.
Want to be a better leader? Give one piece of meaningful feedback every day.
Want to build a stronger team? Have a quick check-in with one team member daily.
Want to grow your business? Focus on improving one key metric each day.
Want to develop a new skill? Practice for 20 minutes daily, without exception.
In every area of life, the daily practice, the consistent laying of bricks, is what builds your Rome.
Your Turn
As I kick off a new month (with a new streak to maintain!), I’m curious: What’s one small tracking habit that has made a big impact for you?
Or, if you don’t have one yet - what’s one small action you could track daily that might lead to major change over time?
The simplest daily habits create the most powerful transformations.