Are you joining 'Quitters Day'?

Did you know that the second Friday in January is known as 'Quitters Day'? It is the most likely day for people to give up on their new year resolutions (and sometimes career aspirations). That's less than 2 weeks into the new year! I can't help but wonder if that means that those goals and intentions were not backed by the right motivation or habits.?

What does this mean for your career? In my experience quitting can mean 2 different things:

1. Quitting a job or company that no longer feels right for you.
2. Quitting on yourself and giving up on the study, dream job or business idea that you have not yet found a way to bring into life.

For point 1, there are times when it is appropriate to quit a job and move on to something new, and there are other times when it is better to persevere and see a difficult situation through to get the learning. How do you know what to do in your situation?

It is a good idea to quit a job if you are consistently unhappy or if the work environment is toxic or unhealthy. It is SO important to prioritise your own well-being and if a job is causing you significant stress or anxiety, you need to move on. Perhaps even explore a 'soft landing' job.

There are also times when it is better to persevere at work, even if the going gets tough. If you are facing a challenging project or a difficult boss, it can be tempting to throw in the towel. But, it is often worth sticking it out (with a deadline in mind of when you'll check in with yourself and make a new decision) and seeing the situation through to the end. This can help you build resilience and demonstrate to yourself and others that you are able to overcome obstacles and complete tasks, even when they are really difficult.

Ultimately, the decision to quit or 'hang in there' at work should be based on your own values and goals. If you're still not sure, a helpful question I often ask myself "What would future me (2-5 years from now) thank present me for doing?"

In addition to your job and career goals, it is also important to think about your broader life goals and how they align with your work. For example, if you have a goal of traveling more or spending more time with family, a job that requires a lot of travel or long hours may not be the best fit (even if it used to work for you).

I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions, but for some people they can be a great way to set goals and make positive changes in your life. However, it is important to be realistic and set achievable goals AND back them up with helpful habits. It can be easy to become discouraged if you set goals that are too ambitious or if you try to make too many changes at once.

So before you join 'Quitters Day', perhaps do the following simple, but powerful things:

1. Ask yourself what you really want in your overall life and career.
2. Pick 1-2 habits that will start to move you towards that.

Sometimes setting the direction and focusing on the habit, rather than the goal can keep us on track and help us feel more fulfilled and happy.

Looking to quit, level up your career or grow in your current workplace?

Check out my online career building course or book a free confidential call with me! #quittersday #newjob #careergrowth #careerpath