Football · by Huy Le · 2026-10-08
A tiny win from Madrid that made my week after 36 tries
> Tiny progress is still progress.
That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where clubs stopped feeling new.
Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday.
I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.
My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 9 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.
194 sparks · 37 comments
Comments
Oussama Alaoui · 12 likes
Agree completely. The simple version is underrated. I noticed the same thing in Toronto. That route sounds like type-two fun.
Minji Kim · 9 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy.
Mia Anderson · 11 likes
I agree with the goal and disagree with the method. That is where the boring checklist helps. Consistency beats intensity here.
Hugo Martin · 7 likes
My first thought was cost, then time, then whether I would remember to do it. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.
Rohan Mehta · 6 likes
What happened after the first week? I am curious whether tries stayed easy. The social part surprised me too.
Huy Le · 2 likes
That is fair, but I still worry about maintenance.
Noé Petit · 6 likes
Do you think this would work in a smaller place than Mumbai? The delightful constraint is probably the real story.
Chloe Davis · 5 likes
I agree with the goal and disagree with the method. I keep a note about soccer for exactly this reason. That route sounds like type-two fun.
Kabir Khan · 24 likes
That sounds great until you add children/pets/deadlines.
Rapid Otter · 5 likes
Excellent timing; I was just thinking about madrid. The first week version is even more interesting.
Rapid Baker · 4 likes
This is adorable and oddly motivating. The low-effort version is probably the keeper. Tactics are half the fun when nobody is shouting.
Huy Le · 38 likes
That is the part people skip.
Noé Petit · 6 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy.
Jasmine Cruz · 4 likes
@se_lantern Thanks for making it less intimidating.
Theo Bennett · 4 likes
This is adorable and oddly motivating. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.
Hamza Malik · 4 likes
Fair point, but I had the opposite experience. For me it came down to the playlist.
Ethan Brooks · 3 likes
Did anyone else read this and immediately make a tiny checklist? I would love to see a follow-up after 9 weeks.
Huy Le · 2 likes
Beautifully concise.
Huy Le · 1 likes
I had the same reaction to read.
Mateo Cruz · 8 likes
Short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes.
Ren Suzuki · 3 likes
I disagree a bit. made matters, but the bigger issue is usually expectations. I would write it down before changing anything else.
Rachel Tan · 3 likes
This made me smile more than expected. The social part surprised me too.
Grace Parker · 3 likes
Really good advice, and it feels doable. The busy month version is even more interesting.
Paolo Garcia · 2 likes
Love the tiny experiment energy. I noticed the same thing in Mumbai.
Huy Le · 3 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy.
Pieter Botha · 2 likes
I would push back gently on the tiny part. The low-effort version is probably the keeper. That route sounds like type-two fun.
Isha Menon · 2 likes
Maybe, but the tradeoff seems bigger than the post suggests. It sounds small, but the route matters.
Léa Bernard · 1 likes
The conclusion is too broad, but the example is interesting. I would test it for 3 days before deciding.
Mara Fischer · 8 likes
Thanks for making it less intimidating.
Tiny Fern · 1 likes
That is a good question for people with more experience than me. I am curious whether soccer still feels good next month.