How to stop giving up easily
Okay, here's the article: I used to be a champion quitter. Seriously. Anything that got even a little bit hard, I'd bail. A new workout routine? Lasted maybe a week. Learning to play the guitar? Gave up after a month when my fingers hurt. Even something as simple as trying a new recipe would end in disaster, usually with me ordering pizza. I hated that about myself, but I honestly thought that's just who I was.
A person who couldn't stick to anything. Then one day, I had a really embarrassing moment. I signed up for a 5k race thinking it would be "fun." I hadn't run in years. I walked most of it, and even then, I almost gave up halfway through. I was so far behind everyone else. But something clicked. Seeing all those other people, some of whom were clearly struggling too, made me realize I needed to change. The first thing I did was set smaller, more achievable goals.
Instead of aiming to run a marathon, I focused on running for just 10 minutes straight. Then 15. Then 20. Breaking it down made it feel less overwhelming. It also meant I had more small wins, which kept me motivated. Next, I started tracking my progress. I used a simple notebook and wrote down how far I ran each day, or how long I practiced guitar, or even if I just managed to work on a new recipe for 15 minutes.
Seeing the improvement over time, even if it was slow, was incredibly encouraging. It gave me concrete evidence that I was actually making progress. I also learned the importance of finding an accountability buddy. I told a friend about my goals and asked her to check in on me regularly. Knowing that someone else was expecting me to do something made it much harder to give up.
We even started going for runs together, which made it more enjoyable. One of the biggest things that helped was learning to accept setbacks. There were days when I just didn't feel like doing anything. Instead of beating myself up about it, I allowed myself a break, but I made sure to get back on track the next day. I realized that everyone has bad days, and that it's okay to not be perfect.
The key is to not let those bad days derail your entire effort. I also started focusing on the "why." Why was I trying to achieve this goal in the first place? Was it to get healthier? To learn a new skill? To prove something to myself? Remembering the reason behind my efforts helped me to stay motivated when things got tough. I learned that celebrating even the smallest successes is crucial.
Did I manage to run for 30 minutes without stopping? Time to treat myself to something small, like a new book or a relaxing bath. These rewards helped to reinforce positive behavior and made the whole process more enjoyable. Finally, I embraced the idea that persistence is key. It’s not about being perfect, it's about showing up and doing your best, even when you don't feel like it.
It’s about learning from your mistakes and using them as opportunities to grow. Over time, I started to see that I was capable of much more than I thought. I'm still not perfect, and I still have days when I want to quit, but now I have the tools and strategies to keep going. And that makes all the difference. So if you're struggling to stop giving up, remember to set small goals, track your progress, find an accountability buddy, accept setbacks, focus on your why, celebrate your successes, and above all, be persistent.
You've got this.
Name: Sarah I would recommend breaking down big tasks into even smaller steps. Sometimes even 15 minutes feels like too much, so try starting with just 5 minutes.
Name: Mark It's also important to be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or two. Just get back on track as soon as you can.
Name: Jessica I found that visualizing my success really helped.
I would imagine myself achieving my goal, and that would give me the motivation to keep going.
Name: David I agree that finding an accountability buddy is crucial. It's so much easier to stay motivated when you know someone else is counting on you.
Name: Emily I would add that it's important to find something that you genuinely enjoy.
If you're not enjoying the process, you're much more likely to give up.
Name: Michael Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of people who have been in your shoes and can offer advice and support.
Name: Ashley Remember that progress isn't always linear. There will be times when you feel like you're not making any progress, but that doesn't mean you should give up.
Just keep going and eventually you'll see results.