“Every single Thursday, I quit something.” – Bob Goff
My friend, Bob Goff, is crazy. In an amazing way, of course.
He is one of the most accomplished people I have ever met. He runs a law firm and a non-profit organization (yes, both), serves as the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda (yes, really), and is the NYT bestselling author of Love Does, I book I can’t recommend more highly. But the best part about Bob? He seems to enjoy life more than most. Stress? Anxiety? Worry? I’m sure he has all three, but it’s hard to see. He is happy. And kind. And comes up with wild capers that he involves others in that changes hearts and lives. Meeting Bob changed my life. He’s that kind of guy.
Obviously there are many reasons for Bob’s incredible success in life, but one of the ones I like most is his passion for a particularly strange habit: quitting one thing every Thursday.
He calls it Quit Thursday, and it’s as easy as it sounds. Every Thursday, Bob quits one thing. And you, too, can follow suit.
The idea, of course, is that we’re all doing things we don’t need to be doing. Things that zap our energy and passion and crowd our lives so much that we can’t do the amazing things we should be putting all our passions into.
Today is Thursday, so I bet you know what I’m going to ask.
What can you quit today?
What is one thing you can throw out of your life for good that will help you be happier, more focused, more fulfilled, and better able to accomplish what your real calling in life is? Because that’s the thing you need to quit today.
Some tips on thinking of a good thing to quit on your first Quit Thursday:
- Go with your gut
- Don’t go too big
- Don’t over-think it
So, what will you quit today?
I’m going to quit stalling. There are so many things I need to do that I keep putting off as if they’ll magically take care of themselves – this bad habit has caused me tremendous grief and stress numerous times; you’d think I’d have learned my lesson by now.
Thanks for the call to action!
Love it!
I like Kimberly’s answer – quit stalling. I do the same thing so often, and things just pile up, and then I have to deal with them all at once . . . sigh.
What do you plan to quit today, Claire?
I think today is the day I stop beating myself up for not getting up as early as I’d like…
I’m going to stop reading reviews for books touting a religious agenda.
Cool!
OMG. How insanely timely and serendipitous! I’m going to quit expecting my 5 month old daughter to sleep on some regimented “she should be sleeping through the night” schedule and quit the self-doubt that has plagued this aspect of my parenting. As a new stay-at-home-working-mom, the expectation that she’ll sleep through the night, or sleep longer than 30 minutes during a nap has driven me to the point of insanity. And it’s really gotten in the way of my productivity while I’m working when she’s sleeping. Because instead of focusing 100% on the task at hand, at least 50% of my attention is on the hamster wheel wondering, “did she just move? did i just hear her squeak? will she sleep long enough for me to write this curriculum module? wait, focus! wait! what’s focus? have i had enough coffee? too much coffee? am i going CRAZY?????” So today while I did downward dog as she played beneath me, it just came to me: no more. Today I’m quitting that whole monstrous cycle of anticipation, self-doubt and worry. And it’s the best thing to have happened in a long, long time.
I LOVE it Sarah! How are you?! And the little one???
I love this concept. Curiously, it fits in with the opposite and also rather positive action I’ve been taking lately, which is to introduce a new good habit each week. Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and life is definitely lived in a kinder, lighter way if change is gradually brought in. So in the spirit of keeping it simple, I am going to quit whining. Whining, I’ve figured, ushers in worry and anxiety and I really need to leave all that well behind me.
Thanks Claire, from the bottom of my heart!
Really great point Sophia – I’d love to start doing that;)
Hmm, I like this idea. I will need to give it some thought, and I’ll probably make a list. Possibly, that is what I need to quit.
I LOVE it! And yes – me too – TOO MANY LISTS!
I really feel envious of Bob Goff, mainly because he was able to change Claire’s life. I’d love to do something like that. But I think I’m too old for that, and Claire probably doesn’t want more life changes. But she changed my life, a few months ago when I serendipitously lucky found her PRESENT set of daily principles. I’m been using them everyday. Despite being an old atheist, I started praying. Not to a god, but to the world, the universe, the being. I developed my own kind of praying, going from giving thanks, to wishing for good things for my beloved ones and me, hoping for good things for all human beings, begging for the miracles I need in my life. Thanks, Claire. Regarding the Thursday quitting, I’m not a quitter at all. I want to keep doing all I’m doing and more. But I think the idea is interesting anyway. Thanks again.
HA! You are hysterical!
Some examples of things Bob ‘quits’ would be helpful. 🙂
Excellent idea…..today I am quitting the office birthday cake. I will still participate with the team but avoid the unhealthy intake of sugar. I now have a calendar reminder for every Thursday to quit something.
great idea to put calendar reminders!
I’m going to quit biting my nails ! It’s been a terrible habit of mine for way too long and being a women I should try to have nicer nails to look at. I’ve always been self-conscious of my hands (short stubby fingers) so I’m not doing myself any favors by chewing my nails/skin – today that stops! (hopefully). I have a long list of things to quit, I’m happy with starting with this one.
Me too! I have to paint mine to keep the biting at bay…;)
I just happen to be reading Love Does right now, and think its wonderful!
PS…I think today I will quit doubting that I can be what “God” intended for me to be, and just have faith.
Thanks Claire!
Yep — a GREAT book!
What a BRILLIANT idea! I’m going to quit doubting myself this week. Next week…I might try to quit coffee! Maybe?! Or perhaps something easier… Regardless, I think I’m going to have to do this from now on.
Fabulous post!
Thanks!
I’m no Quitter.. )))
I was reading this and I was like.. What a cute idea(thinking., this doesn’t pertain to me). Of course it does. I’m going to stop using the word “should…” Like, I should do this or I should have done that. It’s either I will our I will not. No should.
Nice!
interesting. i’ve advised clients [i’m a tax accountant] when they are unhappy with a situation or position to just QUIT DOING IT or QUIT THINKING IT. it is very freeing to give up something that stands in the way of where you need to be. of course, first you have to realize that the obstacle is just a bump to go over or a wall to go around. things that i’ve quit: recording TV shows that i will never watch anyway. spending time with people who depress me. trying to ‘fix’ things. insisting my husband read his mail [it just goes on his desk where i don’t have to see it]. trying to make hard boiled eggs so they peel easily. worrying about what toothpaste to buy [i left that with my ex husband].
to sara mac dear: my oldest didn’t sleep through the night until she was 3 years old, a month before my 2nd was born. she never napped, either. my pediatrician said accept it, you are so low end sleep scale yourself what do you expect? so try to relax, work when someone else is around to care for her [i used to work from 11 pm to 3 am, when her dad was home] when she was up i was 100% mom and when i was working … well i was still 100% mom but i was 100% tax accountant too. LOL- i should go into politics, i can be 200% of something!
I would like to quit negative thinking as that would be a foundation for keeping an open positive mind for starting the day
I wish Bob good health and happiness. With his state of mind and selfless attitude he will go miles
Society, and the world in General will be benefitted by such people
Thanks
I’m going to quit expecting my dogs to understand how much of a hurry I’m in and let them stop and sniff on our morning walk.
I love this one!
keep posting this every thursday !
Thanks for sharing this!
Its good idea to start step wise, instead of thinking too big which in turn becomes impossible.
I think I will quit tea, I already know that its damaging me.
Kind Regards,
Sunil
What about switching to herbal?
I take sometimes green tea, but when with peers in office its hard to avoid normal tea. And herbal is not commonly available at workplace, as you know how it goes in India. But I believe, I will make my best efforts to do it herbal. Thank you so much.
Kind Regards,
Sunil
I am not quitter in one-way but found this as amazing way to prioritize what matters most.
I decided to quit being unorganised and start using Things Apps to help me, and just by listing down I felt happier… hoping this will work
I will give up over thinking this Thursday!
What am amazing technique to get rid off bad stuff in life.
Thanks Claire!
I am going to quit resisting change!
Tonight (it’s not Thursday, but I didn’t act on this article on Thursday!), I decided on something radical to quit. I decided to (temporarily) quit my participation on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. I was thinking about how I have gradually gotten sucked into social media, and as a result, taking time and attention away from other things, which from tomorrow on I will get back into. I almost certainly will not be gone from social media forever, but I figure a couple of weeks (or even longer?) away might reveal some important things about how I structure my life.
This is a wonderful idea! And the best part is to actually enjoy quitting something. Of course, it should be a bad habit or a poor diet choice, that we ought to put an end to. 😉
I want quit over-planning/thinking but how do I start?
Great post Claire! I’ve been working on a similar sorta practice for the past few weeks – saying no to any/all new commitments (social, professional) that aren’t an integral part of or support essential priorities, like family. fitness, writing, etc. After reading your post, I realize what I can [need] to quit is my habit of explaining or defending why I won’t do whatever is being asked of me and my time. Many thanks for the ‘quit’ tip – I’m putting it into action, immediately.
I am going to quite waiting – waiting for the right moment, for the right job, for the right season. I am going to DO more and find joy in the process.
That’s a good idea. Maybe I will do it every other week and add a good habit the rest of the weeks, like Sophia mentioned. This week, I will quit “being too busy to eat right now” and just take a break when I start to feel hungry. Way better for your concentration.