Is Quiet Quitting An Answer To Improving Your Work Life Balance?

There’s an interesting phrase going around social media right now. It’s called, “Quiet Quitting”. The term is used to describe individuals who show up at their job and plan to give the bare minimum necessary to keep their job. It’s being herald as a way to improve work life balance, reduce stress and show employers you’re not going to take the unrealistic demands they have of your time and energy anymore.

Can this be seen as an actual way to improve work life balance?

In the very, v-e-r-y short term, maybe.

But not in the long term.

Having the attitude that you’re going to show up and give the bare minimum, can be depriving in ways you might not have expected. It deprives you of:

➡️the ability to be creative and innovative in the work that you’re doing️

➡️the ability to be engaged and be an important part of a ️team

➡️the ability to grow

If you’re thinking about quiet quitting at your job, consider these ️two alternatives:

First, try getting specific about what you want to quit.

You can begin with the larger topic: Is it the load? Is it unrealistic expectations? Does it center around time? From there you can start to narrow your focus: Do you feel like you’re the only one carrying the load? Are the deadlines too short for the work needed to complete a task? Is there room for flexibility with your schedule?

I coach a lot of people who are overwhelmed in their jobs, and I find if I work with them long enough, that there’s one or two things that if we can change, they’re much happier in their job.

The second suggestion to try is wrapped up in a quote by Margaret Wheatley, “Be brave enough to have a conversation that matters.”

If you’re unhappy in your current job because you’re feeling overloaded, and it’s encroaching upon your personal wellness, talk to your supervisor. Ask them about changes that could possibly be made. Tell them of your frustration. Stand up for yourself and talk to them about what would work better for you to be able to still accomplish the outcomes the organization has for you AND retain a level of personal wellness that is satisfactory to you.

Before you try quiet quitting to improve your work life satisfaction, try bringing your whole self to work in a way that will help you accomplish what’s important to you.