đź“ť 7 Tricks to Try When You Want to Quit
What do you do in those times when you get so overwhelmed or discouraged that you want to throw in the towel and quit?
We recently had a chat about this during a coaching call for The Cohesion Collective, and discovered that there are a couple of different ways to approach burnout. Get a peek into what a coaching call is like inside The Cohesion Collective here:
We’ve all been there: in our bellydance practice, our job, or even our favorite hobbies! It’s important to remember that feeling burned out or lacking motivation is NOT a reflection of who you are as a person, or of your value. So if you’re currently feeling this, take a deep breath, and let’s dive in and get you through it.
1. Take a break
This may feel counter-intuitive, especially given society’s conditioning of buckling down and DOING THE THING UNTIL IT’S DONE. But the reality is that you may just need to step away for a minute, a day, a week, even a month. Honor your mental, bodily, emotional, and spiritual needs FIRST! Another great suggestion from a member of The Cohesion Collective was to try another practice where you are a newbie who is not expected to be competent. I did this for myself and tried improv comedy classes, and it was so transformative for me! Doing something completely separate from my usual dance life allowed me to become more vulnerable, learn more about myself, and step outside my comfort zone—all of which made me a better dancer and helped me break out of a rut!
2. Stop comparing yourself to others
It’s tempting to think “it’s easier for other people” than it is for me or “other people are succeeding faster than I am.” That’s most likely not true. Social media gives us a very narrow window into someone’s life experience. You have no idea what difficult circumstances or health problems even the best dancers struggle with. Keep your eyes on your own paper! Remember, comparison is the thief of joy: compare and despair.
“Consistent and imperfect action is the way forward.”
3. Address your perfectionism
This is SO IMPORTANT: Consistent imperfect action beats out perfect inaction every. single. time. Perfectionism is a pursuit, NOT a possibility. Stop trying to get it perfect and instead enjoy the process. It might help to set an achievable timeline of goals to work towards, but that brings me to my next point:
4. Adjust your expectations and remember everything is temporary
We have different capacities to be productive or creative on different days. We need to do self-reflection around when and how we function best, and go from there. However, emotions change, so avoid making decisions when you feel you want to rage quit. Take a nap or a few days off and then you can always rage quit later, if you still want.
5. Reevaluate your “why”
Take a moment and think: Why is this goal important to you? Once you know, dig even deeper: what is the WHY behind your why? For example, if it’s Fame, then are you actually seeking love and validation? (It’s totally okay if this is the case! Do not have judgment for yourself in this phase. You want what you want!)
Or are you doing this for money? Or digging deeper, do you seek ease and stability?
Whatever it is, understanding the WHY helps you analyze the critical path to make it happen, and allowing yourself some grace along the way.
6. List your accomplishments regularly
This may seem time-consuming or braggy, but this is such a game-changer! You NEED to take time to Feel proud of what you HAVE done, because often we forget all the seemingly little steps we’ve taken to further our goal. You can make this list of accomplishments every week, month, quarter, year, or even as needed. I find that this practice helps you feel grateful for what you CAN do, so celebrate yourself without reservation!
It can also be helpful to talk to someone who sees you differently than you see yourself, like someone who loves you, is impressed by you, and proud of you.
7. Value the process
I’m saying this again because it needs repeating: perfectionism is a pursuit, not a possibility.
Sometimes we forget that the moments leading up to the goal are your actual life, and that these moments are what actually matter. If you’re all work and no play, burnout is a certainty. Trust and value YOUR process, and keep in mind that growth is not linear, and your trajectory may not look like someone else’s. Keep your eyes on your own paper and do what brings YOU joy.
So there it is! I hope you found this as helpful as we did in The Cohesion Collective.
These coaching calls are one of the things I love most. Each week members submit questions around not only bellydance, but personal and professional growth as well! If you’d like to be a part of topics like this, I invite you to Apply TODAY to join us inside The Cohesion Collective!
There’s no obligation to join and when you apply you’ll get access to my advanced private training where I explain exactly how I train people to become brilliant bellydancers!
Warmly,
April Rose and The Cohesion Collective Team 🌹
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