While marriages, buying a house or having a baby are well-celebrated in society, these are not the only milestones that deserve shouting about. Many of us have goals that stretch far beyond these such as starting a new venture, job or business, running a marathon, going back to education or simply making it through a particularly difficult period. Yet, as many ambitious career women find, we can often bypass marking these achievements as we move from one accomplishment to the next.

Our Step Forward partner Pandora wants to encourage us to see the value in celebrating moments that feel important to us personally, no matter how big or small. “Pandora’s brand purpose is giving a voice to people’s loves. Our jewellery is not only expertly crafted for every occasion and for every day, it is also a vehicle for sharing and commemorating the people, moments, places, interests and dreams that we love”, says Pandora’s CMO, Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson. 

Why should we mark milestones?

Research shows that over 70% of people believe self-love significantly impacts their career and job satisfaction, yet studies also show that 85% of people worldwide have low self-esteem. One way of promoting self love, and therefore boosting our potential, is through the marking of milestones.

It can seem like there is always a new term, from languishing to resenteeism, to capture the lack of motivation we feel towards our lives and careers, carving out time and space to honour achievements can be an antidote against this. When we hold out, and only celebrate the ‘big’ moments, the time in between can leave us feeling deflated. If we make a big deal out of steps along the way we can feel more fulfilled. It can also be a powerful motivator. 

Another important reason why we should be commemorating our special moments is because it encourages reflection. As the old adage goes “you cannot move forward, until you look back.” For instance, if you choose to celebrate starting a new venture after a particularly difficult period of time, you may be able to reflect on any challenges and how you overcame them to get to this point. Doing this, can build a sense of resilience as we know what we can navigate through, and we can take this wisdom with us moving forwards.

How do we mark milestones? 

You might now be sold on the idea and want to find a way to celebrate your personal milestones, but don’t know where to start. Fear not, we have some ideas for you!

When we mark other people’s life milestones, gift giving often plays a big part, yet it is rare we do this for ourselves. If we choose a bracelet to wear daily, to mark an important moment, every time you look down at it, it will serve as a reminder of that time in your life. However, instead of making an impulse purchase that becomes a throwaway item later down the line, investing in something for life can be a beautiful way to commemorate our achievements. 

Pandora’s approach to sustainability, crafting their jewellery with respect for people and the planet, make them an ideal place to find your milestone gift. They believe in circularity and have a strong focus on using recycled materials, which means you can become a part of silver or gold’s story and make it your own. With their range of collections, you can choose timeless pieces that will last through the years. And for a more personalised option, you can opt for their engravable jewellery that’ll make the gift to yourself mean even more.   

Another option for celebrating your wins, big or small, is to get people together, just as you would for a more conventional milestone. By inviting people to celebrate with you, you are giving permission to yourself and others to make a big deal out of something that feels important to you. If this isn't your style, or you prefer a more reflective activity to mark your milestone, doing something like writing a letter to your future or past self that you can keep in a memory book may be a good option. Using the opportunity to do something totally for yourself, like visiting somewhere that’s been on your list, or taking a day off work to do an activity you love, can also be a great way to make sure the milestones don’t pass you by. 

Now we know the plethora of benefits that come with celebrating our achievements, make sure you carve time to do exactly that when the next opportunity comes along.

Find out more about, and browse Pandora’s jewellery options to mark your next milestone!