5 Strategies to Avoid Quitter’s Day
Did you celebrate Quitter’s Day?
I hope not. It’s a real thing. A social network for athletes called Strava conducted research on 800 million user-logged activities in 2019. Their data suggests that most fitness-related resolutions end around two weeks into the new year. So Strava has declared the second Friday in January as Quitters Day.
Human nature may default to quitting, but that’s not who we are in Christ. Romans 8:37 reminds us, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
So how can we apply this mindset to our personal and ministry lives?
When the rubber meets the road, our human nature likes to bend toward the path of least resistance. So while we may have good intentions, getting traction on personal growth and school improvement initiatives can be challenging.
Here are five simple strategies to make 2023 more productive:
Identity- Remember who you are. Modern psychology would have us believe that the “power from within” can be leveraged for advancement and success. As Christians, we know that power for real change starts with God. In Him, we are more than conquerors!
Goal Setting- This research proven strategy is helpful in charting direction and establishing outcomes. According to research conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University in California, we are 76% more likely to reach our goal when we write them down, establish action commitments, and share them with a friend.
Habit Formation- While goals are great for setting direction, habits focus on the process, provide real results, and embody our identity. Without intionalizing habits, progress will be marginal. So as an individual or an organization, we need to remember that performance is most impacted by our habits.
Zeigarnik Effect- Based on Bluma Zeigarnik’s (1927) observations of waiters, we have a tendency to remember unfinished tasks vs. completed tasks. This phenomenon helps us overcome procrastination. Just getting started on a task or initiative creates momentum, even if it is a small start.
Find a Tribe- If we desire to improve any aspect of ourselves or our school ministry, it is important to find others with similar goals and mindset. This can be a powerful motivator. We can find a small group Bible study, join a gym, search for a leadership cohort, or put ourselves around high performers. Our tribe’s vibe will unconsciously help us move the needle.
May God bless each of us, our ministry teams, and congregations in 2023!
Share what you’ve learned! Forward this article to a friend or share the article with your team in your next faculty/board meeting:
Discuss together which of the five strategies might help you most in your personal resolution(s).
Talk about how your team (tribe) might encourage each other in your ministry’s goals. What strategy are you missing? Which one might be most impactful for your team at this point?
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