Why quitting can be a superpower that helps your mental health

Some months back, one of my patients — a man in his 50s — told me: “I’m burned out. I should look for a new job; I’m just there doing what I need to do to get by.”

A few weeks later, he told me he had been laid off. “How do you feel about that?” I asked.

“Surprisingly good,” he said with a sigh. “I should have quit years ago.”

Many of my patients ask me to help them quit — usually it’s something unhealthy such as smoking or gambling. But a few ask me to help them quit a job or relationship or a long-term project — things that many of us value.

Many people think — and you might, too — that quitting reflects laziness, inadequacy or failure. From the time we are children, we are taught that “nobody likes a quitter.”

My work, however, has taught me that quitting, itself, isn’t the problem. And quietly quitting — doing the bare minimum like my patient had been doing — can be a form of avoidance. But knowing how and when to quit is a superpower that can benefit your mental health.

Persevering at all costs can be harmful

But while people can quit one thing, they may find it difficult to quit another thing. Also, quitting prematurely can lead to a sense of regret.

Persevering at all costs, though, can inhibit our ability to adapt, grow or explore new opportunities. And sometimes, choosing not to quit can make it difficult to achieve our goals. For instance, being stuck in a toxic relationship can make starting a family tougher.

Quitting allows us to pivot and move forward — sometimes in a different (and better) direction.

When should you quit

Knowing when to quit — whether you want to leave a start-up company or a committee at your church — is a personal decision. But these symptoms can help you decide if you should quit.

Burnout (physical and emotional exhaustion; feeling cynical about your life most days).

Depression (feeling worthless, changes in sleep or appetite, or experiencing suicidal thoughts for at least two weeks).

Emotional stress is a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death in the United States, including coronary artery disease, cancer and suicide. Weigh the health risks of the stress from persevering against the benefits to decide if it is time to move on.

And if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety or burnout, a mental health professional can help as well.

How to quit smarter

Early in medical school, students learn to triage cases by tending to the most urgent ones first, such as cardiac events over sprained ankles. You can take a similar triage approach when deciding what to quit.

One of my patients — a woman in her 30s — initially came to see me for depression and burnout. She had a stressful job and was involved in many committees related to her children’s extracurricular activities.

Taking a triage approach, she realized that her most urgent responsibility was to financially support her family. She then saw that quitting some of the extracurricular committees would allow her to find a better work-life balance. This change allowed her to be more emotionally present and less exhausted when she was with her children.

Steps to take to quit

I often reference scientist BJ Fogg’s formula for behavioral change (B=MAP) when teaching my patients how to quit. Fogg suggests that for a new behavior (B) to take place, three things must converge: motivation (M), ability (A) and a prompt (P).

1. Set a quit date.

2. Leading up to it, modify the things you can control — such as incorporating more self-care into your life or setting boundaries with your time — while weighing the risks vs. benefits of quitting.

3. Plan what your new life might look like after you have quit.

4. As your date approaches, give yourself permission to move on if you need to.

Quitting doesn’t have to be permanent

Some of my patients who started small businesses and realized that they weren’t ready ended up closing their businesses, only to try again years later with great success. Others have gone through a divorce, and rather than quitting on marriage altogether, remarried and had a long-lasting second marriage.