Things to Consider Before You Quit

It has been a minute since I have had time to dedicate to writing here. So glad to be back!

Being away for a while longer than I meant to got me thinking about giving up on blogging completely. I had many excuses lined up for myself, too! Everything from, no one even reads this – it’s a waste of time, to, I have too much other important stuff going on right now to make room for this. And after contemplating these excuses, here’s where I landed: yes, it could be that no one reads these; and yes, I do have a lot of other important stuff going on – and I love writing!

Sometimes, there are valid reasons to quit on a goal/task. As we grow and have different life experiences, we must make space for our values and priorities to change, or we will never get anywhere important. With this change will come a “Spring cleaning” of things going on in our lives because we cannot do it all (at least not well). So, how do we decide what stays and what goes? I am so glad you asked!

Before throwing in the towel, it is important to check-in with yourself on why you are feeling the urge to quit. Here are some things to consider:

• How long have I been considering giving up this task/goal/job? If this is a decision you have been pondering for weeks, months, or years, then making a change might be the right move. On the other hand, if this is an impulsive thought that you are having, then it might be wise to put a pin in it.

• Logistically, can I afford to call it quits? It is great to daydream about throwing up your hands and running off into a beachy sunset haze…But, life comes with certain responsibilities, and some of those responsibilities are here to stay. Now, I am not saying that this means you are stuck in a goal/task/job that you really do despise; instead, I invite you to think about an exit plan. Taking your dream of change and bringing it to life is possible; it just takes some planning sometimes.

• Is this a decision that is feelings-driven? Yes, I feel you. There are moments (sometimes longer than others) where I feel a deeply intense urge to quit something important. Having this awareness is key to making informed decisions. There is a difference between feeling the pressure/heaviness of an important project and being crushed by something that no longer holds value in your life. Don’t let short-term pressures cause you to quit something that holds long-term meaning.

• Is this task/goal/job (or part of it) still important to me?Perhaps there is a specific part of a task/goal/job that you find important, and other aspects that you could really do without. Assessing how much your values align with whatever it is you are thinking of quitting is vital. Satisfying our core values in some way provides our lives with meaning. This means that taking that something away will likely leave us feeling less than whole. So, if you do decide to quit, it will be important to find an alternative way to satisfy that value.

• What will I do instead? Quitting something will likely free up more time. It can be helpful to make a pie chart that is divided into 24 sections (one for each hour of the day), then fill in each hour with time dedicated to different tasks. If quitting frees up a lot of that space, it will be helpful to think of alternative practices/tasks/goals you will fill that time with. And this can be anything! For instance, if you are giving up a corporate job to satisfy a core value of family, then filling in some more of that pie chart with quality family time will be meaningful.

• How will I feel long-term giving this up? This is a great question to reflect on. Quitting often brings short-term relief, as there is likely less on your plate. Putting that relief aside, ask yourself: how will I feel tomorrow if I quit this today? What about a year from now? What about in 5 years?

You are not lazy for wanting to quit; and you are not wrong if you decide to quit. These points can help you best decide whether quitting makes sense for you. So, instead of using the label of “quitter”, think instead about the possibilities letting this thing go will provide you. If after going through these points you still feel change makes the most sense, then you have made an informed decision; and that is what it is all about!