---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can only take it a day at a time. Try…"
description: "\"You can only take it a day at a time. Try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to, and then it'll work itself out.\" — Shai Gilgeous..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg"
---

#  You can only take it a day at a time. Try to get better…

![“You can only take it a day at a time. Try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to, and then it'll work itself out.” quote by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg)

> “You can only take it a day at a time. Try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to, and then it'll work itself out.”

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Progress comes from daily incremental improvement in any chosen area.

**In simple terms:** Improve a little each day.

Key Takeaway

Focus on daily growth.

Themes

self‑improvement habit formation motivation

Mood

motivational practical

Type

inspirational self‑help

When to use this quote

- fitness training
- skill learning
- career development
- personal health

Key Concepts

incremental change goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- Which small habit can you start today?
- How will you measure daily progress?

A Different Perspective

Consistent effort may be hindered by burnout or lack of resources.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Every single day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-single-day/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [You can only take it a day at a time, try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try-to-get-better-every-single-2/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [Every day I look as a chance to get better and I try to get better for the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/every-day-i-look-as-a-chance-to-get-better-and-i-try-to-get-better/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I miss my family every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-miss-my-family-every-single-day/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [If you're married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/if-you-re-married-and-you-have-a-wife-and-you-really-love-your-wife/)

[Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/)

> [Our soldiers show every single day that they are more than good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/our-soldiers-show-every-single-day-that-they-are-more-than-good-enough/)

[Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/)

> [No matter what you have done to this moment, you get 24 brand-new hours to spend every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/no-matter-what-you-have-done-to-this-moment-you-get-24-brand-new/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I'm a show pony, and I don't get to skate with girls doing triple Axels every single day. I skate with little babies who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wagner/i-m-a-show-pony-and-i-don-t-get-to-skate-with-girls-doing-triple/)

[Ashley Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wagner/)

> ['The Quiet Ones' was my first film, let alone my first horror film, and I had so much fun. I had such a laugh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cooke/the-quiet-ones-was-my-first-film-let-alone-my-first-horror-film-and-i/)

[Olivia Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cooke/)

> [“I think about you every time I play. Every single day, I take you with me wherever I go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-stewart/i-think-about-you-every-time-i-play-every-single-day-i-take-you-with/)

[Kate Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-stewart/)

> [To be honest, there are so many things I learned in acting school beyond the method; it was a safe place to practice. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-levy/to-be-honest-there-are-so-many-things-i-learned-in-acting-school/)

[Jane Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-levy/)

> [Sarah Huckabee stands in front of the country and lies every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/sarah-huckabee-stands-in-front-of-the-country-and-lies-every-single/)

[Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/)

> [“Every single day is an opportunity to do something great, and redefine our destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-scrieva/every-single-day-is-an-opportunity-to-do-something-great-and-redefine/)

[Nadia Scrieva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-scrieva/)

> [You have to recognize that you're not going to be at your best every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-dorfman/you-have-to-recognize-that-you-re-not-going-to-be-at-your-best-every/)

[Andi Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-dorfman/)

> [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/)

[Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/)

> [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/)

[Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/)

## More by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

> [I'm just trusting my work. Putting it in everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-trusting-my-work-putting-it-in-everyday/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I've noticed that throughout my experience, when you keep positive energy, positive things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-ve-noticed-that-throughout-my-experience-when-you-keep-positive/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I don't worry about starting. I'm not worried about accolades or things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-don-t-worry-about-starting-i-m-not-worried-about-accolades-or/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm just confident in my abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-confident-in-my-abilities/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [Life's about ups and downs, season's about ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/life-s-about-ups-and-downs-season-s-about-ups-and-downs/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just think we're all high-level basketball players, best in the world. And no matter the outside circumstance, we still have to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-think-we-re-all-high-level-basketball-players-best-in-the/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm not playing this game just to be a good basketball player. I want to be one of the greatest to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-not-playing-this-game-just-to-be-a-good-basketball-player-i-want/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I've always been a basketball junkie... Always watched videos, slowed them down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-ve-always-been-a-basketball-junkie-always-watched-videos-slowed/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm just really confident in my abilities and how hard I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-really-confident-in-my-abilities-and-how-hard-i-work/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm a learner. I just soak things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-a-learner-i-just-soak-things-up/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [Learning how to play on a team full of future pros, it's not as easy as everyone thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/learning-how-to-play-on-a-team-full-of-future-pros-it-s-not-as-easy/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just love the game. It's brought me so much joy in my life. I have no choice when I'm playing it, I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-love-the-game-it-s-brought-me-so-much-joy-in-my-life-i-have-no/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just work hard, keep my head down and be true to who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-work-hard-keep-my-head-down-and-be-true-to-who-i-am/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just soak things up and learn as time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-soak-things-up-and-learn-as-time-goes-on/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I want to be one of the best point guards to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-want-to-be-one-of-the-best-point-guards-to-ever-play/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

[Explore all 100 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

Browse all 17,085 Better quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You can only take it a day at a time. Try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to, and then it'll work itself out.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try-to-get-better-every-single/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try-to-get-better-every-single/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/580/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try_1896595.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You can only take it a day at a time. Try to get better every single day in whatever area you want to, and…” — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You can only take it a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try-to-get-better-every-single/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/you-can-only-take-it-a-day-at-a-time-try-to-get-better-every-single/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```