How I Overcame the Urge to Quit: 5 Life-Changing Lessons That Saved My Sanity

I almost quit because I couldn’t open a jar of peanut butter.

I wish I was joking. But there I was—sitting cross-legged on the kitchen floor, in a hoodie that hadn’t seen daylight in three days, sobbing over a stubborn lid. Not because I was hungry. Not because peanut butter is that important (though, let’s be real, it kind of is). But because everything felt like too much. The emails, the dreams, the pressure to “just keep going.” I was one inconvenience away from dropping it all and ghosting my entire life.

It wasn’t one dramatic crash—it was the slow burn of trying so hard for so long. Trying to make something of myself. Trying to stay inspired. Trying to look like I had it together when I very much did not. I’d scroll past those motivational quotes like “winners never quit,” and I’d roll my eyes so hard I saw my brain. Because sometimes? Quitting feels like the only thing left that makes sense.

But here’s what nobody tells you: The urge to quit is normal. It’s loud. It’s convincing. And it doesn’t mean you’re weak or lazy or broken. It just means you’re tired. And being tired isn’t a flaw—it’s a signal.

That day on the kitchen floor didn’t mark the end for me. It was weirdly the beginning. Because right after the breakdown (and a snack), I made one tiny decision: to try again. Not perfectly. Not forever. Just again. And from there, things started to shift.

If you’re reading this because you’re hanging by a thread or dangling off a cliff made of to-do lists, this is for you. I’m not here to give you a magical morning routine or a productivity system that “changed my life.” I’m here to tell you what actually helped me crawl out of the spiral, one awkward inch at a time.

Because if you’ve ever felt the urge to quit—to walk away from your dreams, your goals, or even just getting through the day—you are wildly not alone.

So let’s talk about the five life-changing lessons that helped me keep going when quitting felt easier

1. I Cried Over a Broken Zipper — and That Was the Turning Point

I once cried because my jacket zipper wouldn’t close. Like, full-on meltdown. Not because I loved the jacket. Not because it was that cold. But because that tiny snag felt like the final straw in a mountain of invisible stress.

The truth? We rarely quit because of one big failure. We quit because of the accumulation—the little things that pile up until something snaps. That zipper was my tipping point.

But here’s the lesson: The urge to quit is often your body’s way of waving a tiny red flag. Not because you suck. But because you’re human. Exhausted. Maybe even overwhelmed by things you haven’t had the space to name.

When I stopped shaming myself for feeling defeated by small things, I finally got to the real stuff underneath. I needed rest. I needed to feel heard. I needed to stop pretending I was fine.

Sometimes crying over a zipper is sacred. Let it be.

“Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse—it often looks like crying in Target.”

2. I Took a “Fake Quit”—and Weirdly, It Worked

(Keyword: urge to quit)

I didn’t officially quit. But I acted like I did.

One morning, instead of showing up for my to-do list, I did something wild: I took a break without guilt. No Instagram post saying “I’m taking time for me.” No productivity book telling me how to rest efficiently. Just… space. I unplugged, I watched trash TV, I wandered without purpose.

It felt like a fake rebellion. But it gave me real perspective.

Here’s what happened: after a few days of doing nothing “useful,” I realized I missed my work. I missed creating. I missed dreaming. I didn’t hate what I was doing—I hated how I was doing it. The pressure. The pace. The constant measuring against people who didn’t even know I existed.

Lesson? Sometimes you don’t need to quit the dream. You need to quit the self-punishment wrapped around it.If you feel the urge to quit, try a fake one first. Step back. Breathe. Let your joy miss you a little. You might come back stronger—or with a whole new plan.

3. I Realized Nobody Else Knew What They Were Doing Either

Plot twist: Everyone’s winging it.

Even the confident-looking people. Even the ones with blue-checkmark energy and “CEO of My Life” vibes. Behind the scenes, they’re Googling things like “how to stop hating everything” just like you.

My urge to quit often came from the belief that I was behind, broken, or missing some internal GPS. But the more honest conversations I had, the more I learned that nobody feels totally ready. Everyone’s building a plane mid-flight while hoping it doesn’t crash into an emotional support cactus.

So I stopped waiting to feel qualified. And I started doing small things—even clumsy, weird ones—that made me feel alive again.

“Clarity is a result, not a requirement. Keep moving.”

You don’t have to know everything to keep going. You just need enough courage to try the next thing.

4. I Let Myself Be a Beginner — Again and Again

(Keyword: urge to quit)

Here’s the thing no one told me about chasing goals: you don’t just start once.

You start over—a lot. And every time, it feels mildly humiliating.

I used to think starting over meant I failed. That every time I got tired or distracted or behind, I had “ruined” my chance. Cue: urge to quit.

But one night, mid-scroll, I saw a post that said, “You’re allowed to be a beginner as many times as you need.” And I swear it hit me harder than a plot twist in Grey’s Anatomy.

So I gave myself permission to begin again. To not know all the steps. To take breaks. To move forward even if I didn’t feel “ready.” Starting again wasn’t weakness. It was strength. It meant I hadn’t given up on myself, even when it got messy.

“Beginners aren’t behind. They’re brave.”

When the urge to quit shows up, remind yourself: maybe you don’t need to quit—maybe you just need to begin again, softer this time.

5. I Found My “Why” in the Mess, Not the Motivation

You know those mornings when you wake up with zero motivation? Like, even brushing your teeth feels negotiable?

Yeah. Me too.

I spent way too long waiting for motivation to show up like a UPS package. But it ghosted me more than my college crush. Turns out, motivation is flaky. But meaning? That stays.

When I stopped chasing hype and started reconnecting with why I cared, things shifted. I remembered the younger me who dreamed of this. The people my work could help. The freedom I was craving.

Motivation is nice—but meaning will drag you out of bed when your soul feels like a puddle.

The urge to quit got quieter when I focused on purpose, not perfection.

Why This Really Matters

This isn’t just about checking off goals or sticking to resolutions. It’s about you—your energy, your sanity, your heart.

When we normalize the urge to quit, we stop judging ourselves for being human. And when we learn to stay—not out of pressure, but out of love—we build something way stronger than momentum: we build trust in ourselves.

You’re not failing when you pause. You’re not weak for needing a break. You’re growing through the hard parts most people try to avoid.

“Survival is sacred. Staying is strength.”

Conclusion

Remember that jar of peanut butter I couldn’t open?

Sometimes I think about that day and laugh. Sometimes I still cry. But mostly? I’m grateful. Because that breakdown cracked me open just enough to rebuild. Not harder. But gentler. Realer.

The urge to quit still visits me sometimes. It whispers that I’m not enough. That I’m falling behind. But now, I know how to answer back—with rest, with honesty, with tiny acts of rebellion that say: “I’m still here.”

You, my friend, are still here too. And that means something.

You don’t have to be unstoppable. You just have to be willing to keep coming home to yourself, even when it’s messy. Especially then.

So if today you’re crawling, collapsing, or crying in your car—you’re not failing. You’re growing in real-time. And I’m cheering for every wobbly, courageous step you take.

You’re allowed to stay. You’re allowed to start again. And you’re doing better than you think.