Quitter's Day is this Friday. How Will You Memorialize Your Resolutions?

Quitter's Day: a day of observance for New Year's resolutions that didn't survive past the second Friday of January[1]. Quitter's Day reflects the painful struggle most of us have between our intentions and our actions. The fact that there is a day for this shows this struggle is something we all deal with (it's also great marketing by Strava[2]). Each new year, we collectively feel motivated by the "fresh start effect" and start taking action. And about 2 weeks later, we collectively get gut-punched by how difficult it is to change our behavior.

I'm intentionally framing Quitter's Day as a solemn day of remembrance, similar to a funeral. Because, after years of trial and error with my own habits, I've learned that fear is a powerful motivator. Using dramatic and scary framing is how I often trick my brain into doing what's best for my future self. The reality is actually pretty scary. 40 percent of premature deaths are caused by the small choices made every day[3]. What we eat and drink, whether we exercise, if we smoke, how we drive. These habits add up to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year from cancer, heart disease, and accidents.

In a sense, our resolutions that don't survive past Quitter's Day cause future days we don't survive to see. I know what you're thinking: "this guy must be a lot of fun at parties." Yeah, mortality isn't a fun topic, but I just want to keep the party going and live a long, healthy life. The whole "memento mori" thing[4] and Future-self FOMO are tools I use to scare myself into action. As Katy Milkman said in this great interview with Mel Robbins[5], beginning is not enough, and you need a plan to make the most out of a fresh start. New Year's resolutions and the "fresh start effect" just get you started, but they don't get you to the finish line.

So maybe this year, try reframing Quitter's Day as a fresh start. Memorialize this day as the day you joined the 20% of people who actually stick to their resolutions[6]. And if you need a plan, "How To Change" is the essential handbook to get you to the finish line you choose, not the one your habits choose for you.

[1] There Is A Day For That, "Quitter's Day"

[2] The Independent, January 2018, "Quitters' Day: People most likely to give up New Year’s resolutions today"

[3] The New England Journal of Medicine, September 2007, "We Can Do Better — Improving the Health of the American People"

[4] Memento mori: Latin for "remember [that you have] to die"

[5] Mel Robbins podcast: "Change Your Life This Year: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be"

[6] The New York Times, December 2007, "Will Your Resolutions Last Until February?"