Stepping Stones

Lessons on Intentional Living with Lisa McGrath

Quietly Quitting, Really?

You don't have to be on TikTok to have heard the latest coined term "Quietly Quitting" making its way into the global workforce; everyone seems to be talking about it. It's been associated with the frustration of the last few years of the pandemic and the unsettling feelings of burnout and the weight of job discontentment. I've had a lot of clients bringing it up and asking what it means within the Intentional Living framework, so I'm sharing my thoughts here.

In my mind, quietly quitting isn't anything new...if you've been in the workplace for any amount of time you've witnessed colleagues participating in quiet quitting for years and may have jumped on the bandwagon yourself. Sure, if you're like some of the folks I've talked with you might not think this is true of you, but have you ever taken a "mental health" day, put off tasks so you could leave at the end of the workday, or avoided activities that didn't fit into your job description? 

Much of social media defines quiet quitting as not subscribing to a "hustle-culture" as a career move in hopes of job advancement, but rather adhering to a life-work balance with professional boundaries, well-defined job responsibilities, and clear work hours. Some proponents call it a "healthy self-care" strategy to help avoid burnout while critics, like Arrianna Huffington from Thrive Global and Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary say that the quiet quitting concept fosters laziness, questions work performance, and inhibits career advancement.

Like anything else, responses to quiet quitting vary with individual definitions and situations. Our current economy, lack of job satisfaction, and chaos of the pandemic have influenced how we now evaluate our time and efforts.

Many employees are choosing to step back and set firmer personal and professional boundaries so as to not overextend themselves. Many have limited commitments, volunteering efforts, or taking on additional duties, especially if they've already been working over and above in hopes of advancement, salary increases, or recognition but continue to go unnoticed with evaluations that are just "at standard".

Then there are those employees that search for life-work balance in such a way that they work to live and not live to work; these workers find extreme value in their time and how they choose to spend it.

There comes a time when one must self-assess life choices; work stress, feelings of being unappreciated, and climbing the corporate ladder might not align with the dream...job or career. And that's okay. That's why having a reflective practice comes in handy; it allows you to think about the individual life choices and opportunities available to you...perhaps even investigate new opportunities.

There are also those employees with unions that have a "work-to-rule" initiative...many of these folks only work during their contracted hours. This philosophy works for a lot of people, especially those not looking for advancement, recognition, or salary increases. Many successful people are satisfied with just doing the minimum and coasting by; some of these folks are less-engaged workers, don't take their jobs too seriously, don't work overtime, and don't go above and beyond. Again, a personal choice.

Another important point to consider is that your job title doesn't define you; we are multifaceted people. Our roles as employees and employers are just a small part when it comes to who we are. When you take 100% responsibility for your life, what you do, what you don't do, and who you become, then you understand who you are more fully.

Some proponents suggest they aren't "quitting" their jobs but creating more boundaries and taking care of themselves as a lifestyle choice. I won't argue for or against this strategy, but I will suggest something that I learned when I walked across the threshold of my first job: give them a quarter for their dime. This means you do go over and above what's expected, especially during your work hours. I believe in being of service and doing the very best you can...in all things...including work.

Sure, you can jump on the bandwagon and claim to be "quiet quitting" for any number of reasons, but remember, at the heart of quiet quitting, is your decision to do or not do. You have the ability to earn a profit or a wage...your choice; I believe earning a profit by investing in yourself and your skills is the way to go for long term, but the ultimate goal is to build your Intentional Life...for today and tomorrow.

As an employer, I set clear performance goals and expect employees to meet them. I have high expectations for myself, too. I value my team and appreciate the impact we have by being passionate for what we do. It's a decision...an intentional decision to do and be our best. 

So, when it comes to 'quiet quitting' make sure to define it for yourself; remember your time...work and play...align your goals, and invest in yourself while you make a commitment to excellence (not perfection), and do you.

The life philosophy of A House With Four Rooms suggests thinking of yourself as being four rooms: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual rooms. It advocates for doing something daily for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

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