Ridgeview Presents- Stacking Days: The Power of Small Steps
By Michael Yates
OAK RIDGE, TN. (WLAF)- Recently, I had the good fortune of learning more about the positive difference Individual Placement and Support (IPS) can make in the lives of people living with mental illness or co-occurring conditions who are seeking meaningful employment.
During an Advisory Committee meeting, a Ridgeview client shared his personal story of empowerment through employment. What caught my attention, however, was his T-shirt. Across the front was a question: “Ask me about stacking rewards.”
It made me smile, but it also got me thinking.
Among recreational endurance athletes, there is a familiar philosophy called “Stacking Days.” The concept is simple: regardless of how you feel on a particular day, adopt a lifestyle that encourages you to get out the door and do something. Even ten minutes of exercise counts. Ten minutes can become twenty, minutes become hours, and hours become days. Before you know it, you’re stacking days—and building something meaningful through consistency.
The slogan on that T-shirt resonated with me because the same principle applies to employment, personal growth, and recovery.
Successful employment rarely happens overnight. It takes time, encouragement, and intentional effort. Through IPS, individuals work alongside employment specialists to identify their vocational interests, establish realistic employment goals, and develop a plan to achieve them. Progress comes through small but meaningful steps: exploring opportunities, preparing for interviews, developing workplace skills, finding employment, and building confidence along the way.
The Ridgeview client who shared his story had been stacking his days through employment at several different companies. Each experience offered an opportunity to learn, grow, and become more confident and empowered. His journey wasn’t defined by one job or one moment of success, but by the cumulative impact of showing up, trying again, and continuing to move forward.
Could the concept of “Stacking Days” help you achieve your own goals?
Perhaps you’re working toward better physical health, navigating a difficult season, rebuilding relationships, pursuing employment, or simply trying to establish healthier routines. Whatever your goal, consider starting small. Ten minutes of exercise. One meaningful conversation. One job application. One appointment. One day of choosing to move forward.
As physician and author Atul Gawande observed in his book Better, “Betterment is a perpetual labor.” Becoming better isn’t a destination we reach; it’s an ongoing process of learning, practicing, and making small improvements along the way.
And that’s the beauty of stacking days. We don’t have to accomplish everything today. We simply have to take the next step. Tomorrow offers another opportunity to build upon what we started today.
At Ridgeview, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue a healthier, more meaningful life. Whether you’re seeking employment support through our IPS program or developing a personalized plan for better behavioral health, our team is ready to meet you where you are. Care begins through our Walk-in Clinics at Ridgeview outpatient locations, with no appointment necessary during designated walk-in hours. Visit www.ridgeview.com to learn more.
So, what are you waiting for? Start stacking days. Before you know it, those small steps may add up to something extraordinary.
Michael Yates is the Director of Development at Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services
Ridgeview is a private, not for profit community mental health center serving Anderson, Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 11/10/2026-6AM-PAID)
