Quiet Quitting - Don't Leave Your Job Before You Leave Your Job

Quiet quitting is when an individual is unhappy with their job, stressed out, and doesn't feel valued in today's "hustle culture". It's a common phenomenon in today's workforce, and it can have a negative impact on both the employees and the company they work for. Quiet quitting can lead to decreased productivity, missed deadlines, and increased stress levels. In addition, quiet quitters can damage morale and create a negative work environment. If you're feeling unhappy in your current role, it's important to address the issue head-on. This article addresses this trendy topic and offers tips to help turn this challenging situation around.

Have You Quit Your Job Already and Maybe You Don't Even Know it Yet?

Do you feel burnt out or not motivated in your work? Have you lost that drive to do your best? Do you feel like your boss doesn't listen to you or she/he doesn't care? Some days you feel that you're just "phoning it in" at work and you're not being as productive as you should be.

It's estimated that 66% of the workforce is disengaged. That means they're not putting in their best effort and they're just going through the motions. It's tough to know when it's time to move on from your current job. You might be afraid of what will happen if you quit - will you find another job right away? Will you be able to pay your bills?

It's no wonder so many people stick with jobs they hate for years longer than they should. Staying in a bad situation is stressful and exhausting. In this article, I will discuss what "quiet quitting" is all about and some things you can do now to help look at your job more objectively, plus, some ways to improve your situation and consider alternative strategies to greatly improve your career.

What is Quiet Quitting Actually?

When we quiet quit, we may not even realize that we're doing it. We may think that we're just coasting or doing the bare minimum, but the truth is that we're suffering as a result of our apathy. We're bored and trapped, stuck in a situation that feels impossible to escape from.

The term "quiet quitting" is a self-fulfilling prophecy - the more we tune out and disengage, the more likely we are to fail. But it doesn't have to be this way. If we can find the motivation to push through our apathy and "quiet quitting", we may just be surprised by what we can achieve.

Why is Quiet Quitting on the Rise?

Quiet quitting is on the rise because it's easier than ever to tune out of our jobs and disengage. With technology, we can now work from anywhere and there's a constant temptation to check our email or social media. This makes it easy to fall into the trap of distraction and procrastination. We may not even realize how much time we're wasting when we're not focused on our work.

In addition, the traditional 9-5 job is becoming less common. With the rise of the gig economy, more and more people are working from home or as freelancers. This can make it difficult to stay motivated and focused on our work. We may not have the same structure or support that we would in a traditional job.

A recent study conducted on the Great Resignation found ~50% of all Americans think they’ll leave their job within the next year, with the major reason being attributed to a strong desire for flexibility. "If given the opportunity to build their dream schedule, 42% [of employees] would opt for mostly remote work with occasional days in the office." This shows us that employees are desiring (and will likely start demanding) significant changes in the workplace.

Quiet Quitting is Simply Doing the Bare Minimum

Quiet quitting is a conscious choice - we're choosing to coast instead of putting in the extra effort to improve our situation. It can be tempting to give up and coast through our work, but this is often counterproductive.

If we can find the motivation to push through our apathy and "quietly quit" on the job, we may just be surprised by what we can achieve.

How to Prevent Quiet Quitting and Find a Work-Life Balance

When you are young, you are simply grateful to have a job and don't really think about the impact you are making in your career. As you progress further in your career, the more you will likely desire meaningful work (ie. something that matches your values or gives you greater opportunities for growth and advancement). This is why if you are a mid-to-senior-level professional or executive you should specialize your career in a direction that actually works for you.

There are a few things you can do to prevent quiet quitting and stay motivated in your job:

Set Goals - It's important to have clear career goals with a definitive pathway to follow to help you accomplish what you personally desire in your career. When we lose focus or get distracted, it's easy to fall into the trap of quiet quitting. By setting goals and staying focused on what you want to achieve, you can stay motivated and productive.
Take Breaks - It's important to take breaks throughout the day, especially when you feel overwhelmed or frustrated. This will allow you to step back and regroup, and it can help you stay focused on your work.
Stay Connected - It's important to stay connected with your colleagues and bosses, even if you're working from home. This helps you feel more connected to your job and less isolated.
Use Technology Wisely - Use technology to help you be more productive, and not to distract from work. By setting boundaries and using tools like timers and website blockers, you can stay focused on what you need to accomplish during the workday. Then you can unplug and spend your free time more effectively with loved ones.
Communicate Regularly with Managers - Set aside 15-30 minutes per week to talk with your manager or team leaders. This will give you an opportunity to review your work and get feedback on how to move forward with current projects and/or how to be more productive and engaged.

Examples of Good and Bad Job Stress

Believe it or not, having some stress at work can actually be healthy - if it is stress that productively challenges you to grow.

Good stress can be helpful in motivating us to achieve goals, but too much or bad stress can be harmful. Examples of good stress might include needing to learn a new exciting skill, an achievable deadline for a work project, a tough workout, or being in a challenging but stimulating conversation. These types of stress can help us feel alert, awake, and energized.

Bad stress, on the other hand, can be very harmful. It can cause physical problems like headaches, upset stomachs, and even heart attacks. It can also lead to emotional problems like depression and anxiety. Some common causes of bad stress are money problems, relationship problems, and job-related problems.

Quick Tips to Avoid Job Burnout

Job burnout is a very real and very serious problem. It can happen to anyone, and it can cause a lot of damage if it's not dealt with.

Here are a few quick tips to help you avoid job burnout and "quiet quitting":

Take some time for yourself. When you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, take some time for yourself to relax and recharge. Go for a walk, read a book, or take a bath.
Set boundaries. Don't let your work consume your life. Set boundaries between your work life and personal life, and make sure you take time for yourself outside of work.
Communicate with your boss. If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, talk to your boss about it. They may be able to help you find ways to manage your workload more effectively.
Find a new job that is more stimulating and engaging - where you don't feel like you'll want to quietly quit. If you need help finding more interesting work, Dynamo Careers may be able to help you.

To learn more about job burnout and the 3 stages of burnout please check out our article titled The Dangers of Job Burnout: How to Recognize and Prevent It.

How do You Know When it's the Right Time to Quit or Find a New Job?

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to quitting your job or finding a new role elsewhere. But how do you know when it's the right time? Here are some signs that it might be time to move on:

You're not happy at work anymore. If you're dreading logging in every day, it's probably time to quit or find a better job somewhere else.
You're constantly stressed out. If you can't seem to relax at home because you're always worried about work, then it might be time to go.
Your relationships with co-workers have deteriorated. If you can't stand being around your co-workers anymore, it might be time to move on.
You've stopped learning and growing. If you feel like you've stagnated in your job, it might be time to look for something new.
You don't feel valued at your job. If you don't feel like your employer respects or appreciates your work, it might be time to find a new job.

Here are some things to consider:

How will quitting affect your finances? If you're not prepared for the financial consequences, it might not be a wise decision.
What will happen to your benefits? If you have medical insurance through your job or a 401k, you'll need to consider what will happen to those if you quit.
What are the risks involved? Quitting without having another job lined up can be risky. You could end up unemployed and struggling to make ends meet.
How will quitting impact your career? Quitting can look bad on your resume and could make it more difficult to find a new job in the future.

Before you quit, it may be helpful to speak to a career coach. We're here to help if you need us.

Instead of Quiet Quitting, How Can I Be Thinking About My Job/Career Differently?

If you're in a situation where you realize that you have already quietly quit your job, ask yourself this question, do I want to stay in my job?

Considering putting more parameters on your job so that you can have more livelihood outside of your work. If this is what you choose, great. However, it must be a conscious choice so that you just do your work between the hours of 9 to 5.

Get done what you need to get done so you meet your core responsibilities, but then make sure you have something else engaging in your life, a hobby or a creative project, something that's going to keep you engaged and help you have that sense of satisfaction in life.

Going back to what I've talked about before, if you're completely stressed out and dissatisfied and it's impacting your job and life, then consider optimizing aspects of your job so that it does work for you. Or maybe it's just simply time to go somewhere else?

Are You Ready for a Job/Career Change?

Dynamo Careers can help you find work you love, and make more money, with a better work/life balance. We can assist you in making the transition much, much easier, and significantly more fulfilling for you!

Maybe you don't need to quit your job just yet. Perhaps there is some fine-tuning that could help make your current job more interesting. Or if it is time to move on, let us help you find a significantly better fit for you.

We offer confidential career coaching services with expert advice and customized support through every step of the process. We'll help you create the absolute best plan for yourself, cope with any emotions you may be having, and stay positive during this difficult time.

Check out our value-packed Career Masterclass Now!

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All the Best to You!