The second Friday in January has the unwelcome distinction of being dubbed Quitter’s Day.
Falling on the 12th this year, it is the day deemed most likely for people to give up their New Year’s resolutions and abandon their goals and good intentions right before the weekend.
Quitter’s Day got its name in 2019 based on data from fitness app Strava, which used information from 800 million user-logged activities to find that about 80 per cent of people who made New Year’s resolutions quit them by the second week of January.
As the optimism and euphoria of new year celebrations fade and life gets back to normal after the winter break, sticking to resolutions becomes harder as motivation wanes.
“Despite the initial enthusiasm, many find their resolutions unravelling,” says Devika Mankani, holistic psychologist at The Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai. “The reason? Often, our goals are more ambitious than practical. The initial motivation dims as everyday realities and challenges set in, making it hard to maintain the momentum required for these new commitments.”
While quitting can sometimes have negative connotations, there is also a positive side to developing a relationship with cutting your losses, one that allows you to learn valuable life lessons.
Why do we make resolutions?
“The beginning of the year often sees a surge in New Year's resolutions, with individuals setting ambitious goals for self-improvement,” says Maham Rasheed, clinical psychologist at Nabta Health Clinic, Dubai. “Resolutions provide a structured framework for setting and achieving personal and professional goals. But crafting resolutions isn't just about setting goals – it's hitting the ‘reset’ button for a revamped you.”
Setting resolutions at the start of a year can be powerful if done right
Noona Nafousi,
life coach and chief executive of Neo Noor
Resolutions are tied into what psychologists call the “fresh start effect”. It is the idea that people feel more motivated and excited at the beginning of something new, such as the year or even a job or new school term.
“Setting resolutions at the start of a year can be powerful if done right,” says Noona Nafousi, chief executive of life coaching company Neo Noor. “Unlike vague goals or aims, resolutions come with a sense of commitment and a clear timeline, which can be motivating.”
Identifying and overcoming the quitting mindset
Falling afoul of the fresh start effect can lead people to not restart their goals and resolutions until they identify a new starting point – such as the following Monday or the beginning of the next month.
“The main benefit from setting goals in the form of New Year's resolutions is the feeling of a fresh start,” says Rachel Godfrey, co-founder of Chase Life Consulting. “We feel like we can close the chapter of last year and enter into a new one with a blank slate filled with pure possibility. But the truth is, every moment is a brand-new moment that we can treat in this manner.
Inadequate planning can contribute to early disillusionment and subsequent abandonment of resolutions
Maham Rasheed,
clinical psychologist, Nabta Health Clinic
“As humans we tend to chunk time into blocks and then label those blocks as good or bad, such as: ‘It's been a bad day, week or year’, and ‘I can't wait to get this week out of the way and start afresh on Monday’. However, why wait until Monday? Why not make the change now?”
To successfully stick, goals and resolutions should be relevant and achievable. Clear and well-defined goals, such as wanting to run 5km, are easier to stick to rather than vague targets such as wanting to take up jogging.
“Unrealistic expectations can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, while inadequate planning and societal influences contribute to early disillusionment and subsequent abandonment of resolutions,” says Rasheed.
Mankani adds: “To successfully navigate past Quitters Day, it’s crucial to set achievable, well-defined goals. Breaking these down into smaller steps makes them more manageable and less overwhelming. Regularly tracking progress helps maintain motivation, and being flexible allows for necessary adjustments. Having a support system can also be a key factor in staying on track.”
Redefining quitting
Quitting has both positive and negative connotations. Quitting bad behaviours and unhealthy vices such as smoking are seen as good things. Quitting jobs, studies or things others many view as opportunities are often frowned upon.
In the social-media-driven era of side hustles and the “rise and grind” mentality, being a quitter often equates to being a loser, dropout or flake.
Quitting can be a proactive move to avoid burnout and open up opportunities
Devika Mankani,
holistic psychologist, The Hundred Wellness Centre
However, says Mankani: “Quitting isn't inherently negative. In fact, it can be a strategic and positive choice. It's important to regularly reassess our goals to ensure they align with our current priorities and values. Quitting can be a proactive move to avoid burnout and open up opportunities.
“Before deciding to quit, consider if the goal is still relevant to you, and weigh the sacrifices against the potential benefits.”
Developing a positive relationship to quitting can help identify areas in your life that are no longer serving you well.
“Society has ingrained in us the belief that giving up is a reflection of our lack of perseverance,” says Nafousi. “This narrow-minded view has been perpetuated by cultural norms that glorify relentless pursuit and overcoming obstacles at all costs.
“To make matters worse, hustle culture has amplified this mindset, fuelling the rise and grind mantra on social media. With everyone showing only highlights of their reality online, it looks like everyone is waking up at 5am and living their best life in the best shape they can be. However, this toxic portrayal often overlooks the importance of self-care and the consequences of pushing ourselves too far.”
Knowing when to quit
It can be difficult to know when to throw in the towel, especially when factoring in the “sunk cost” effect, whereby you measure the time, effort or money that has been put into a goal or project which cannot be recovered.
There is enormous value in learning life's lessons quickly
Rachel Godfrey,
co-founder, Chase Life Consulting
“A healthy relationship with quitting involves a balance between persistence and adaptability,” says Rasheed. “It includes self-reflection, such as regularly assessing goals and values to ensure their alignment with personal aspirations; flexibility to adjust goals accordingly; self-compassion, acknowledging that it’s acceptable to let go of pursuits that no longer contribute positively to one's life; and celebrating endings by understanding that some closures are necessary for new beginnings.”
Being aware of where you want your resolutions to eventually take you, is another way of developing your relationship with healthy quitting.
“There is enormous value in learning life's lessons quickly,” says Godfrey. “Perhaps you thought that turning your passion for photography into a career would mean you would never have to work a regular day in your life again. But with experience, you discover it has added too much pressure and sucked all the joy out of it.
“Ask yourself: ‘Am I wanting to quit simply because the journey is difficult, inconvenient, or frustrating? Or am I wanting to quit because this path genuinely feels out of alignment with my values?’
“If you're unable to cut your losses because you're afraid of feeling like a failure or looking like a failure, you're not learning the life lesson.”
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
Look%20Both%20Ways
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Company%20profile%20
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')
Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20specs
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US%20federal%20gun%20reform%20since%20Sandy%20Hook
%3Cp%3E-%20April%2017%2C%202013%3A%20A%20bipartisan-drafted%20bill%20to%20expand%20background%20checks%20and%20ban%20assault%20weapons%20fails%20in%20the%20Senate.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20July%202015%3A%20Bill%20to%20require%20background%20checks%20for%20all%20gun%20sales%20is%20introduced%20in%20House%20of%20Representatives.%20It%20is%20not%20brought%20to%20a%20vote.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20June%2012%2C%202016%3A%20Orlando%20shooting.%20Barack%20Obama%20calls%20on%20Congress%20to%20renew%20law%20prohibiting%20sale%20of%20assault-style%20weapons%20and%20high-capacity%20magazines.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20October%201%2C%202017%3A%20Las%20Vegas%20shooting.%20US%20lawmakers%20call%20for%20banning%20bump-fire%20stocks%2C%20and%20some%20renew%20call%20for%20assault%20weapons%20ban.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20February%2014%2C%202018%3A%20Seventeen%20pupils%20are%20killed%20and%2017%20are%20wounded%20during%20a%20mass%20shooting%20in%20Parkland%2C%20Florida.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20December%2018%2C%202018%3A%20Donald%20Trump%20announces%20a%20ban%20on%20bump-fire%20stocks.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20August%202019%3A%20US%20House%20passes%20law%20expanding%20background%20checks.%20It%20is%20not%20brought%20to%20a%20vote%20in%20the%20Senate.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20April%2011%2C%202022%3A%20Joe%20Biden%20announces%20measures%20to%20crack%20down%20on%20hard-to-trace%20'ghost%20guns'.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20May%2024%2C%202022%3A%20Nineteen%20children%20and%20two%20teachers%20are%20killed%20at%20an%20elementary%20school%20in%20Uvalde%2C%20Texas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20June%2025%2C%202022%3A%20Joe%20Biden%20signs%20into%20law%20the%20first%20federal%20gun-control%20bill%20in%20decades.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
