So, there you are, sitting at your desk staring off into space, really fed up with your job and trying to decide if, when and how you want to leave. Instead of flipping a table at work and walking out on your job for greener pastures, there’s a much more subtle way to achieve better balance between work and life. It’s called “Quiet Quitting” and it’s essentially doing your job at the bare minimum. It could mean seeking some more appropriate boundaries at work — like leaving work on time every day — or it could mean saying no to projects that are outside of your job description. It can even mean outright refusing to answer emails outside of working hours. It makes sense that people want work-life balance. According to a recent survey, 40% of working Americans felt more burned out and 30% of workers would consider a pay cut if the job offered better work-life balance. If you’re quiet quitting because you need more balance, that could be a healthy move. If, however, you’re quiet quitting because you’re no longer motivated by your job or aren’t happy at work, it’s probably best to just find a different job. While quiet quitting might sound like a satisfying solution, it isn’t going to get you long-term results. Instead, you would be better served by open and honest communication with your manager to work through the issues that are making you unhappy. Ask for shorter work days, an abridged work week, better respect for off-hours time, and to not be given assignments that don’t fall within the realm of your responsibilities. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to check the want ads.
