Quitters Day Has Passed - Now What?

We’re only a couple of weeks into the new year and we’ve already passed National Quitters Day, the point when nearly 80% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned. So what actually happens between the excitement of January 1st and the quiet quitting that follows?

In this episode of Coffee with M and J, we talk honestly about why people quit, what’s really happening in the brain when we try to change, and why adjusting your goal is not the same as giving up. We explore the difference between resolutions and systems, the power of meaningful challenges, and how pushing yourself physically, mentally, or spiritually can reignite confidence and momentum.

We also share how each of us has started 2026 very differently, why both approaches are valid, and why celebrating wins (even small ones) matters more than most high achievers want to admit.

Whether you’re still going strong, hanging on by a thread, or already fell off and think it’s “too late,” this conversation is your reminder that you don’t need a perfect start, you just need to get back on the boat.

Key Takeaways

• National Quitters Day is real - but being part of the 80% is not a life sentence. Adjusting your goal is often the breakthrough.
• Your brain resists change until new neural pathways are built. Quitting early means stopping right before real change begins.
• Consistency beats intensity. Walking instead of running still moves you forward.
• Meaning matters. If your goal doesn’t connect to your “why,” it won’t stick.
• You don’t need a fresh start date. Monday, January 1st, or “next month” are optional. Starting now is not.
• Bigger doesn’t mean harder for everyone. A challenge is personal - what stretches you may not stretch someone else.
• Physical challenges can unlock mental confidence, even if pushing physically feels unfamiliar.
• High achievers often skip celebrating wins and learning to pause and acknowledge progress can be transformational.
• Resolutions fade; systems last. Build something that carries you through the month and into the year.
• You can’t have the ‘Bon Voyage’ moment unless you get on the boat. The start is the hardest part and the most important.