The Lost Art of Quitting
What do you need to give up in your life?
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One of my favorite authors, Bob Goff, quits something every Thursday.
I know, it seems crazy. And maybe it is a little bit crazy.
I’m the type of person who likes to add more and more to my plate. I like staying busy. I like a full schedule.
If you’re like me, you might find yourself occupied with tasks, meetings, events, and commitments. You might find yourself creating habits that only make yourself busier, rather than creating habits that save yourself time.
If you feel that way, you’re certainly not alone.
According to a 2018 Pew Research study, “60% of U.S. adults said they at least sometimes felt too busy to enjoy life.”
Other data suggests even higher numbers. According to Harvard Business Review, “the percentage of employed Americans reporting that they ‘never had enough time’ rose from 70% in 2011 to 80% in 2018.”
Our society is addicted to busyness.
I get it. Being busy has become a sort of status symbol in American culture. If you’re not busy all the time, then you are doing something wrong.
But what if being busy is preventing us from being our true selves?
What if we’re creating habits that keep us from being who we really are meant to be?
When Bob Goff says that he quits something each Thursday, he’s not talking about quitting previous commitments. He doesn’t mean that you should become a wild-card in the eyes of others on whether you’ll show up or not.
He’s talking about quitting habits that are preventing you from being the person you are meant to be.
Maybe you’ll quit keeping score.
Maybe you’ll quit comparing yourself to others.
Maybe you’ll quit tracking your own failures.
Whatever the case may be, we all have bad habits that prevent us from being our true selves.
It’s time to quit those habits, one Thursday at a time.
© Aaron Schnoor 2023
