And Possibly Dinosaurs

The best parts of being a homebody

When It’s Okay to Quit

Quitting anything is hard. It’s never going to “feel right.” It’s going to be awkward, and you’re going to doubt yourself. So, how do you know when it’s okay to quit? Click through to find out.

Quitting can be tough. Whether you’re quitting a job, a sport, a hobby, or even your blog, it’s never going to be easy.

It seems like I’m always telling myself that it’s never the “right time” to quit something. I haven’t given it enough attention, I haven’t given it enough time, etc.

But here’s the thing: it’s never going to “feel right.” It’s going to be awkward, and you’re going to doubt yourself. So, how do you know when it’s okay to quit?

If you’ve been on Pinterest in the last few months, you’ve likely seen lots of pins about minimalism.

As a child, I was definitely a hoarder. My mother will gladly attest to that — I collected Jones Soda Bottles, tin foil from hot lunches, and the Dixie cups I used every morning when brushing my teeth. Yup, I was gross.

So I’m gladly taking the minimalism plunge, along with every other blogger and Pinterest’er out there.

The one minimalism theory I keep seeing is by Marie Kondo, who constantly asks if things “spark joy” in her life. If not, they’re pitched.

I started doing this a lot in my apartment and got rid of a lot of stuff. Seriously, I don’t know how it all fit before.

But here’s the thing: we aren’t doing this same analysis with our lives. We hoard all of our activities: work, sports, hobbies, friendships, etc. They’re cluttered with things that don’t spark joy in our lives.

Those monthly group outings that cause more stress than they relieve? It’s okay to quit.

That sport that you just aren’t getting the hang of, and you would rather watch than participate? It’s okay to quit.

Mind you, most of these don’t have financial repercussions. But what about your job?

Use this as an excuse to find a way to quit. You might not be able to quit right away, but you can use this simple question as motivation to find a job that does spark joy.

And in the mean time, declutter your life of those other joyless activities. It’s scary, but it’s worth it. I promise.

And after all, maybe it’s the quantity of stuff that’s the problem, not the stuff themselves.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yes, I agree. If you don’t love something, why prolong the inevitable. I really hate being a quitter, but sometimes it’s really the best thing.

  2. I totally agree. If you’re not happy with your job, find something else. If you’re not financially able to just up and quit, just start looking for something else while you’re working.

    After college, I quit a temp job and started working at an optometrist office. I loved working there, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do (editing) and eventually things went south for me there. It took 4 years (with bouts of not-looking between looking hard), but I finally got a job I was happy at. It was a scary change for me, and it came with a pay cut, but it was worth it.

  4. I love this, my friend! I quit my job a month ago because I hated hating my workplace when I love what I do!

  5. I’m all about de-cluttering my life! Thanks for a great post. This makes me think about what I spend time on and what I should focus more on!

  7. Ummm, did you write this about me? 🙂 So many times I feel like a failure if I quit something, but you are right, that it shouldn’t be in your life at all if it doesn’t spark joy!