Lavanya Vallabh“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
Dolly Parton, Singer
After the Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting is the latest trend in the workforce and human resource circles.
Up until three years ago, the population was busy working, not paying attention to their families or personal lives. In a competitive world, everyone is trying to reach the top spot. It’s a constant battle to the finish line, attracting the attention of the manager was their main motivation. However, the pandemic appears to have changed the way people work. People are now looking beyond the numbers. They’ve taken short breaks and have an insight into their lives. The population has begun to move slowly, keeping the rat race away. Quiet Quitting is the latest trend that is sweeping workplaces across the globe. Quiet Quitting is about getting rid of stress at work. The entire concept behind Quiet Quitting is learning to say “no” to an additional amount of work, at the cost of time which is essential.
Some might also argue based on the Pareto rule of 80/20. 80 percent of work is achieved in 20 percent of time, so one could perhaps take rest of the time off.
A shift in a work scenario
Before the outbreak, people were prepared to work long hours. The numbers and targets were the only thoughts that were making loops in their minds which left the people tired. After the pandemic, when people began working from home, a chat during tough times made them slow down and appreciate the little things that bring happiness. So, people are gradually abstaining from taking on an additional burden of work, particularly when they feel they don’t meet the requirements and should do more. Following the time limit for closing and not entertaining stay-backs after the stipulated working hours for discussions or meetings are some of the guidelines that people have begun to adhere to. This art & practice of “saying no” to certain tasks and obligations, and sticking to working hours is known as Quiet Quitting. This is the latest trend for finding the perfect balance between work and life.
Quiet Quitting
Quiet Quitting sounds quite like a misnomer. “The phrase Quiet Quitting was coined in the mid-2022 period following a TikTok video that was a hit on the web. It’s not a way of abandoning a job in a hurry, however, it means saying no to the additional workload and completing the minimum amount of work, and keeping the current job. The principal reason for Quiet Quitting is to avoid the exhaustion caused by the intense stress levels that come in the business sector. It’s done to ensure the health of one’s mind and overall wellbeing.
Quiet Quitting is an antonym for “Hustle Culture” which is also described as “Grind Culture” where growth, career, and earning more money are prioritised. The people who are part of Hustle Culture tend to run behind in terms of numbers, goals as well as higher positions, and larger pay packages. They’ll do anything to reach their highest goals.
In a nutshell, Quiet Quitting is all about absconding from projects, obligations, and a bit of extra burden of work in a quiet manner. Doing not answer work calls during working hours, and shrugging shoulders away from taking on more responsibility at work.
The balance between work and life
“Consistently working late is not necessarily a sign of a hard worker, but rather the inability to use time wisely.”
Victor Bretting, Entrepreneur
The incorrect interpretation of the concept of Quiets Quitting feels like, making the job an increased risk to increase pleasure. However, that’s not the case. It’s about making the best decision at work and finding the perfect balance between family and profession. The culture of work-from-home has forced professionals to consider what is most important in the world.
The need for Quiet Quitting
Working long hours, a negative workplace, an absence of motivation at work, unpaid jobs, job insecurity, anxiety, stress, and depression resulting from stressful work have triggered the necessity for Quiet Quitting. From corporate professionals navigating endless cross-timezone meetings to educators extending beyond school hours and parents adapting to the challenges of post-COVID parenting, burnout is an undeniable reality. The awareness of psychological health, as well as the necessity for a more satisfying professional and personal life, has been reflected in the classes. Quiet Quitting has pitched Quiet Quitting across the globe. Particularly Gen-Z the latest generation is influenced by Quiet Quitting, where they seek to have the best of both worlds, whether in their professional or their personal.
“Quiet quitting means you’re performing your work at the minimum necessary to ensure work-life harmony,” says LinkedIn career expert Blair Heitmann. “For many people, it’s an opportunity to better balance work and life and is the most recent move away from the hustle culture. It could be about establishing better boundaries at work for example, such as making sure you leave your work at a certain time each day or not accepting projects that don’t fit into the scope of your work, or even refusing to reply to emails and messages from your team outside of work hours.”
Impact of Quiet Quitting work
Quiet Quitting can be beneficial or negatively impact one’s professional life. However one can still be extremely productive and contribute to the company.
• Reduce the damage caused by burnout
• Lower levels of stress
• Lower levels of anxiety related to work and depression
• Improved productivity
• A greater focus
• Work that is completed efficiently
• Professional development and advancement of life
• Reduced during working hours
• Calculated hours of work with maximum efficiency
• Impacts of quitting for a quiet time on your personal life
It’s common to put our personal lives in the background while we chase our goals and dreams. However, it’s never too late to make the right priorities. Impact of quiet quitting on personal life;
• Quiet Quitting helps one maintain a healthy balance between work and life.
• Personal life is a priority and improves relationships.
• Being able to enjoy time with your family.
• Family disputes are less frequent.
• Be free from the troubles of depression and burnout.
• Lower levels of stress and anxiety.
• Feeling less overwhelmed.
• Reduced burnout effects.
Do you need to quiet quit completely?
• If you’re considering going to quiet quit because you require more time for yourself and are not meeting the requirements in your workplace, it might be a good idea.
• Any adjustments you could implement to help you focus more on your main goals.
• This allows you to focus more time on the areas that can have the greatest impact.
• This will allow you to feel fulfilled and satisfied with your work.
If you’re contemplating quitting because you’re not inspired by your work or don’t feel satisfied at work, or you’re not fulfilling the requirements of your job in the process, then it’s probably time to look for a new job. Before you decide to consider quitting, consider these questions to help you determine the things you require:
• Are you able to maintain a healthy balance between work and life?
• Are you setting healthy boundaries?
• Do you see growth?
• Do you have the ability to learn and add to your skills?
• Are you proud of your work environment? Are you influential?
If the answer is “yes” then you’re good to go and there is no reason to quit. If the answer is no, then it’s the perfect time to decide on another option.
How can you establish better boundaries at work?
If your reason for wanting to go is due to your inability to set limits on your own, Heitmann advises you to evaluate if focusing on the most important and impactful aspects of your work, or being dragged into work isn’t yours to let go. “Then engage in an honest and candid dialogue with your supervisor to make sure you’re focusing on the correct areas and consider ways you can adjust your approach to improve your position.”
If you’re stressed and need to get your work hours under control Use blocking your calendar before or after hours of work to make sure you aren’t involved in meetings during your time-off.
The most important thing is “Turn off the time you’re done! A lot of professionals had an hour-long commute to help make the transition between work and personal time. However, since so many are working remotely the transition is missed. To help you make the transition from work to personal life, you should set up a new schedule;
- Consider a short outing like a walk in the park when you end the day’s work.
- Break your work day into smaller chunks with some short me-time activities.
- Make sure to turn off your PC at a set time to avoid being distracted by checking your emails when you pass through your office after hours.
It’s very difficult to work only to earn a pay-check. An occupation where there isn’t enough passion to push yourself to go beyond the call of duty is devastation to your soul. Furthermore, nobody with the right amount of conscientiousness and compassion would like to feel they’re letting their coworkers down.
Maybe, in the end, quitting quietly isn’t the best option for long-term success but a temporary solution to help you get through a rough patch until you can find the right job.
“Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four ball — family, health, friends, and integrity — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.”
Gary Keller, Real Estate Entrepreneur
If you are finding it hard to manage work related stress, please reach out to a professional psychologist. You can easily connect with one by downloading the TickTalkTo app. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength not weakness.
