A good day of work deserves recognition before it becomes part of the usual expectation.

Effort that is not noticed quickly becomes the baseline. The first time someone stays late, solves the awkward problem or lifts the standard, it is visible; a month later the same output is simply what they do, and only the next increase gets attention. That is how people end up working much harder for the same amount of acknowledgement.

Say it in the week it happens, with the specific thing named. A sentence at the time is worth more than a paragraph at review season. If it is your own effort, note it somewhere before it disappears into normal.