7 Things To Do When You Want To Give Up

Like a lot of people, I have felt the urge to give up on something. It’s easy to get to a point where it seems as though the time you’ve invested in a dream or goal and the time of fruition can be very daunting. There are cycles of excitement, enthusiasm, creativity, and they are followed by despair, discouragement, and the desire to quit.


In order to succeed, you must break through the discouragement and carry on until the finish line. Here are 7 things to do when you feel like you want to give up.

1. Remember why you began

Think back to the moment that this project, goal, or concept was conceived. Remember the joy and thrill of the adventure ahead? At the beginning, you had a goal in mind; a beautiful picture etched in your mind of the finished task. Beginning was simple; carrying through has become difficult. Going back to the beginning brings into focus the purpose of your endeavor. The memory of anticipation of the job accomplished is stirred up again when you begin to contemplate the reason you began in the first place. Breathe in deep and recall your purpose. Don’t give up!

2. Define why you to want to give up

The feelings of wanting to quit can be overwhelming. The generalized feeling isn’t clear; look at the reasons why you want to quit.  Are you physically tired? Have you been consumed with things and not taken care of yourself in the process? Do you feel little support? Are you lacking ability? Have you come up against some difficulties that you are unprepared for? Do you need to just take a step back before continuing on? There are many reasons why you may want to quit. Be diligent in figuring out what the real issues are and tackle them specifically. Once you see what is causing the feeling, you can address it. Don’t give up!

3. Visualize the finished product

Keep in your mind the picture of the end result. A visualization of what you want to accomplish will keep you moving forward. I mean, seriously, you don’t want to stop partway through. The feeling of being a quitter isn’t pleasant. You are a winner! Remember the slogan: the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat! Whenever you want to quit, ask yourself, do you want the thrill of victory? Or would you rather the agony of defeat? Press on; you can do this. Don’t give up!

4. Make a plan and have a backup

Before you undertake anything, always have an outlined plan of action. There are various ways this can be done. You can write a list, make a breakout chart, or form a checklist for tasks completed along the way. By having a plan in place, when you feel like giving up you can look at the plan and refocus on the steps needed to reach the goal. Have a backup plan in mind before beginning; this way when you are frustrated and want to give up, you will have an alternative plan to put in action. Don’t give up!

5. Find support from others

Don’t isolate yourself or hide your feelings of frustration. Find support from others. Reach out to family, friends, co-workers or even online forums to find someone that you can talk to and rid yourself of what is dragging you down and causing you to want to quit. I promise there are so many other people out there that are struggling with feelings of doubt, fear and frustration just like you are. Finding another person who has gone through a similar crisis will strengthen your resolve and help you get back on course. Don’t give up!

6. Be grateful

Yes, you may feel like giving up. Yes, you are struggling. Yes, you are overwhelmed at the moment. Always remember to be grateful. I know this may seem like a strange thing to say, but it is so true. Whenever you feel like giving up, stop and make a list of the things you are grateful for in your life. You have so much positive in your life to be thankful for. When you shift your focus to becoming grateful for all things, tasks that seem overwhelming take on a new light. The way you look at the situations around you depends on the attitude with which you view them. Take on an attitude of gratitude and you will be amazed at the difference in makes. Don’t give up!

7. Celebrate your victories

You deserve to acknowledge all the victories that you have made along the way. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at all that you have left to do, write out a list of accomplishments you have already completed. By celebrating your progress, you will renew your energy to complete what you are doing. When you see all that you have done, it will excite you to take further action until the finish line. Don’t give up! Never, ever give up!