Quitter’s Day
The ancient Babylonians were the first civilization to celebrate the new year, approximately 4,000 years ago, though their new year began in mid-March instead of January. In the Babylonian culture, this marked the planting of crops. This is also the first record of people setting New Year pledges, which are commonly referred to as resolutions in the modern day. For the Babylonians these pledges weren’t based on exercise, diet, or sleep, but on paying off debt or returning a favor to a fellow community member.
The second Friday of every January is known as Quitter’s Day. Per research conducted by Strava, it is the day most people are likely to give up on their New Year’s resolution, for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is that the resolution isn’t realistic. People are over-ambitious when setting a goal for the new year. Motivation is high out of the gate, but the drive weakens as time goes by. One of the culprits of this decline is hyperbolic discounting. Most commonly used in the world of economics, hyperbolic discounting is a psychological bias where people go after immediate satisfaction over future rewards.
When setting any goal, it is important to understand the difference between an outcome and a behavioral goal. An example of an outcome goal is, “I am going to lose 10 pounds this year.” The problem with making an outcome goal alone is the lack of a strong foundation. The question that should then be asked is, “What is the weight loss plan? Will it be through diet or movement?” In other words, “What behavior change needs to take place to achieve the goal of losing 10 pounds?” This is where behavioral goals come into play. One of the golden rules of behavior change is, small and consistent short-term steps are the most effective way to lay the foundation for new habits.
If you find yourself tempted to celebrate Quitter’s Day, try renaming the day Editor’s Day. Please don’t discount your decision to change, and the days you have under your belt. Celebrate by reflecting on what you have learned from your time, and make a new plan that seems more comfortable based on where you currently find yourself. Be kind to yourself and remind yourself change doesn’t happen overnight. Research has found it takes three to six months for a new behavior to become a habit. Every day is a good day for a fresh start.
