Today Is Officially 'Quitters Day.' Here's Why You Should Consider Quitting Too.

It’s Quitters Day — the second Friday in January, when around 80% of Americans who made New Year’s resolutions have reportedly abandoned them. If you’re one of the 20% or so who haven’t yet ditched their goals, maybe it’s time to join the quitters. I have. Here’s why.

Experience better mental health

People often get caught up in an “I’ll be happy when I achieve this goal” mentality. The constant pursuit of goals can drive a perpetual cycle of unfulfilled expectations, which can create feelings of depression. Failure to make progress or achieve your goals can lead to burnout, anxiety, low self-esteem, negative self-talk and feelings of hopelessness.

Even the scant 6% who are still following through with their resolutions after a year can grapple with arrival fallacy, which Tal Ben-Shahar, a positive psychology expert, defines as the “illusion that once we make it, once we attain our goal or reach our destination, we will reach lasting happiness.”

As a suicide survivor, a person who has struggled with mental health disorders for over 35 years, and a dedicated mental health advocate who has shared my story with millions, I have had thousands of conversations with people about their mental health. Too often I hear “My goals are giving me anxiety,” or “I’m failing at all my goals ― I feel worthless.”

I have yet to meet a person who actually told me that setting goals improved their mental health.

Pursue more unexpected opportunities

When we set a goal, like a New Year’s resolution, we generally focus on a specific outcome, which can lock us into a rigid framework that leaves out all kinds of possibilities and alternative desirable outcomes. The reality is that life is not linear or predictable. It’s more like quantum