You’ve probably heard the buzz around ‘quiet quitting’, a trend that has arisen from the pandemic and basically means you don’t leave your job, but you do stop putting in as much effort as you may once have.
For some people, quiet quitting is a way to preserve their mental health, particularly if they feel they’ve been going over and above for a long time and are now feeling close to burn out. For others it’s a way to coast through work without having to try very hard but still get paid. Whatever the motivation, quiet quitting is gaining traction, particularly with the Millennial and Zoomer generations, and anyone else looking for greater work/life balance in their jobs.
If you’re feeling like you want to pull back from your role, but are not necessarily looking to leave – it’s a good idea to ask yourself these questions:
Why am I feeling like this?
It’s easy to blame an employer or colleagues for why you’re struggling to stay motivated in your role, but if you’re not honest with yourself you may be at risk of bringing the same issues to your next job. Identify your pain-points – is it the workload, the support (or lack thereof), the environment or the actual tasks themselves? Identifying the source of your frustrations at work is important to help you answer the next questions.
What are my boundaries?
A major cause of quiet quitting comes down to boundaries being crossed. Whether it’s never being able to leave work on time, having too much on your plate or being asked to do things beyond the scope of your role, defining your own work boundaries, and more importantly, communicating them to others is important. If for example you can’t get through your workload in your allocated hours, this is an issue that needs to be raised with your manager. It’s great to go above and beyond, but that shouldn’t mean working for free! If you’re someone who always says yes to new tasks and assignments because you feel like you have to, maybe it’s time to start learning the art of saying no. Establishing healthy boundaries at work helps you work smarter, not harder!
What are my career goals?
While quiet quitting may make for a relatively relaxing time at work, if you have any ambitions to progress in your career, doing the bare minimum at work will potentially hold you back. If you’re not taking on new tasks or putting your hand up to get involved, chances are you’re not going to be learning new skills or making those key connections. While it’s crucial to only take on what you can handle, if you’re perceived as no longer trying very hard or not seeming to be a team player, that could impact your job prospects moving forward. If you’re feeling the pull towards quiet quitting, perhaps it’s time to start thinking about your next career move.
Is this the right job for me?
If you’re feeling yourself mentally checking out of your role, and dream about being able to just stop showing up, it sounds like it’s time to find something else that’s better suited to what you want from a job. After all, why continue to put time and energy into a role that is clearly not working for you? If your reason for pulling back from your current role is because you simply don’t enjoy what you do, then do yourself a favour and start looking for something else that will be a better fit.
Sometimes the act of exploring other job opportunities can bring new perspective to your current role. Don’t be afraid to take a look at job boards and get a feel for what else is out there. Looking at other opportunities can inspire you to take the leap and find something better suited to what you want from your role, or you may find that by making a few small tweaks to your current one, you had the right job all along.
Thinking it might be time to for a change? Head to our jobs page for our current listings, check out our top tips for job hunting while working and for when the time comes, how to quit your job without burning any bridges!
Good Luck,
Kirsty and Nikki
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