By Kyra Arndt
You might have heard the common expression “Winners never quit and quitters never win,” which implies that in order to be successful one can absolutely never quit. I, however, believe the opposite to be true. Quitting is not always a sign of weakness; in fact, It takes strength to recognize when a situation is no longer serving you anymore and walk away. At the end of the day, quitting should not be shamed but instead be treated as a tool one can utilize to lead a more fulfilled life.
If you feel the need to quit something, know you are in good company. Examining the example of work, the average worker changes jobs every two years and nine months, according to an article published on the University of Queensland’s website titled “How many career changes in a lifetime?” And that’s just jobs – most adults will completely shift career fields by the time they retire. In fact, on average, workers will hold three to seven careers in their lifetimes. Therefore, quitting is a common occurrence.
To understand just how quitting can improve your future, we must examine a New York’s Times articletitled “All those quitters? They’re at work.” Back in 2021, more than 40 million people quit their jobs in a trend many call The Great Resignation. This was in large part thanks to COVID-19 pandemic conditions. But these workers did not remain unemployed. With the rollout of vacancies and the lifting of pandemic restrictions, the demand for jobs skyrocketed. Now that the demand was in their favor, employees had more power than ever before. They were able to negotiate higher flexibility and better wages with employers. Therefore, by quitting, many Americans created a better future for themselves.
Imagine the example of a smoker “quitting.” In that case, the smoker is applauded as it’s commonly recognized that quitting is their healthiest option. The issue is, oftentimes the activity one is quitting is not quite an easily identifiable evil as smoking. Part of life is trying things that are new, and these new things may not appear unhealthy at first. As Melinda Wenner Moyer states in her New York Times article, “Anytime you decide to start something, you’re making that decision under conditions of uncertainty.” Naturally, as people persist through an activity, new information will arise allowing them to more accurately evaluate whether said activity is healthy for them. If it becomes apparent that continuing in said activity would not be the best choice, then it is time to quit.
There has also been a growing trend that has earned the name “Quiet Quitting.” This explains a new attitude of showing up, getting the job done — and then clocking out, as defined in a Psychology Today article written by Corey Wilks, a licensed clinical psychologist. No longer do younger generations feel the pull to go above and beyond in their workplace. Instead, they move towards setting healthy work-life boundaries that allow them to better enjoy their lives. It is important to note that this is not a sign of laziness, as some may fear. In fact, by regulating the time they spend on work, these workers have more time to be engaged in community activities such as volunteering. Although it is not quitting in its most extreme forms, this concept demonstrates that just small acts of quitting – in this case, “quitting” an employer’s unpaid extra expectations – directly translates into a more rounded and fulfilled life.
There is no more need for the stigma surrounding quitting. The vast majority of people change jobs throughout their lives, so it does not negatively impact a worker’s future. The Great Resignation proved that quitting allows one to have more control over their situations. At its core, quitting is acknowledging a situation is no longer beneficial, and then leaving said situation to lead a brighter future. Even smaller changes, as seen in “Quiet Quitting” allow people to have a more balanced and fulfilled life. Therefore, people should not worry about quitting negatively impacting their future. Quitting allows people to lead quality lives, and therefore is nothing of which to be ashamed.
Kyra Arndt is a student at Fillmore Central High School, and is one of 13 area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 25th year.
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