Don’t Quit, Do It

Did you know that the second Friday in January is known as ‘National Quitters Day?’ This day is when most people will decide to give up on their New Year’s Resolutions. Sadly, they quit pursuing things that they had wanted to do or achieve only a few days ago.

What happened? What went wrong? What could have been done differently? There are several things to keep in mind as you strive to make changes or develop new habits.

First, it takes time. Anything worthwhile will take a while. Good things take time, as they say. Far too often, we quit and give up way too early. If we do not give our habits enough time, we will not reach our goals. You do not plant a seed one day and expect to see flowers the next day. It takes time.

Secondly, you have to take responsibility. It is your choice to either get going, keep going, or quit. It is also up to you whether or not you choose to stick it out when things get hard. If your goals mean enough to you, then you will likely continue to push yourself and continue pursuing them. No one else is going to make your goals or dreams come true. That is up to you. Some may try to help or encourage you along the way, but you will be the one to make it happen.

Here are a few helpful tips and reminders as you pursue goals this year.

First, need to have a clear and solid vision of where you are heading or what you want. Write down your goals. Place reminders where you can and will see them often. Doing these things will help you stay focused and motivated.

Second, set achievable goals. Sometimes people bite off more than they can chew. They try to over-achieve, in too short of a time frame. If they would give themselves more time, or break down their big goals into small ones, then they would likely accomplish their goals. I believe that it is counterproductive to try and accomplish too much in a shorter time frame. Setting smaller, short term goals will help you build momentum as you achieve them, and move toward those bigger goals that you have.

Third, commit to taking action. Without discipline and commitment, forming habits that will help you reach your goals simply will not happen. Action will always produce results. But you must follow the recipe to success: know your goal, break it down into smaller steps, take action, and keep going.

This year, keep going. Get after it. In 2025, do it! Don’t quit!