What is Quitter’s Day and How to Avoid It?

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution, only to give up on it a few weeks later? If so, you are not alone. According to research, most people abandon their resolutions by the second Friday of January, which is known as Quitter’s Day. In this blog post, we will explore what Quitter’s Day is, why it happens, and how you can overcome it and stick to your goals.

What is Quitter’s Day?

Quitter’s Day is a term coined by data analysts who studied the usage patterns of a fitness app called Strava. They found that the activity levels of the app users started to decline by the end of the first two weeks of January and reached the lowest point on the second Friday of the month. This day marks the point when most people lose their motivation and enthusiasm for their New Year’s resolutions and quit them.

Quitter’s Day is not a fixed date, but it usually falls around January 12th. It is observed in the US and several other countries, where the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is popular. The main areas of focus for resolutions involve exercise, eating habits, and weight loss, but they can also include other aspects of personal or professional development.

Why does Quitter’s Day happen?

There are many reasons why people give up on their resolutions by Quitter’s Day. Some of the common ones are:

• Setting unrealistic or vague goals. Many people set goals that are too ambitious, too vague, or too many. For example, they may want to lose 20 pounds, run a marathon, or learn a new language in a short period of time. These goals are hard to achieve and measure, and can lead to frustration and disappointment when they are not met.
• Not having a clear plan or strategy. Many people do not have a specific plan or strategy for how to achieve their goals. They may rely on sheer willpower or hope, without considering the obstacles, challenges, or resources that they may encounter along the way. Without a clear plan, they may lose direction, focus, or confidence.
• Not having a support system or accountability. Many people do not have a support system or accountability for their goals. They may try to do it alone, without seeking help, advice, or feedback from others. They may also not have a way to track their progress, celebrate their achievements, or learn from their mistakes. Without a support system or accountability, they may feel isolated, discouraged, or tempted to quit.
• Not having a growth mindset or flexibility. Many people do not have a growth mindset or flexibility for their goals. They may have a fixed mindset, where they believe that their abilities are innate and cannot be changed. They may also be rigid, where they stick to their original plan or method, without adapting to changing circumstances or feedback. Without a growth mindset or flexibility, they may view failures or setbacks as personal flaws, rather than opportunities for learning and improvement.

How to avoid Quitter’s Day?

Quitter’s Day is not inevitable. You can avoid it and stick to your resolutions by following some simple tips:

• Set SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These are the criteria that make a good goal. For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight”, you can say “I want to lose 10 pounds by March 1st by exercising for 30 minutes every day and eating a balanced diet”. This goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, and therefore more likely to succeed.
• Have a clear plan or strategy. Having a clear plan or strategy for your goal is essential. You need to break down your goal into smaller, manageable steps, and identify the actions, resources, and obstacles that you will encounter along the way. You also need to have a contingency plan, in case things do not go as planned. Having a clear plan or strategy will help you stay on track, focused, and confident.
• Have a support system or accountability. Having a support system or accountability for your goal is crucial. You need to find people who can help you, advise you, or cheer you on. You can also join a group, club, or community that shares your goal or interest. You also need to have a way to track your progress, celebrate your achievements, or learn from your mistakes. Having a support system or accountability will help you feel connected, motivated, and inspired.
• Have a growth mindset or flexibility. Having a growth mindset or flexibility for your goal is beneficial. You need to believe that your abilities can be improved with effort and feedback. You also need to be open to changing your plan or method, based on the results or feedback that you get. Having a growth mindset or flexibility will help you view failures or setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement, rather than personal flaws.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Quitter’s Day:

• Q: Is Quitter’s Day a real thing?
• A: Quitter’s Day is not a scientifically proven phenomenon, but it is based on data analysis from a fitness app. It reflects a common trend where people lose their motivation and enthusiasm for their New Year’s resolutions by the second week of January.
• Q: How many people quit their resolutions by Quitter’s Day?
• A: According to the fitness app Strava, about 80% of people who made resolutions have quit them by Quitter’s Day. According to other studies, only about 8% to 19% of people who make resolutions stick to them and reach their goals within a year.
• Q: When is Quitter’s Day?
• A: Quitter’s Day is on, January 12th.
• Q: How can I avoid Quitter’s Day?
• A: You can avoid Quitter’s Day by setting SMART goals, having a clear plan or strategy, having a support system or accountability, and having a growth mindset or flexibility.

Conclusion

Quitter’s Day is the day when most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions. It usually falls on the second Friday of January, and it is based on data analysis from a fitness app. Quitter’s Day happens because of various reasons, such as setting unrealistic or vague goals, not having a clear plan or strategy, not having a support system or accountability, or not having a growth mindset or flexibility. You can avoid Quitter’s Day and stick to your resolutions by following some simple tips, such as setting SMART goals, having a clear plan or strategy, having a support system or accountability, and having a growth mindset or flexibility. By doing so, you can turn Quitter’s Day from a potential setback into a successful stepping stone.