What Is Quiet Smoking Quit (and Should You Do It)?
It turns out the Great Retirement may be more of a whisper than an explosion, in line with the newest trend known as the quiet exit. Instead of flipping the table at work and leaving work in search of greener pastures, quitting quietly is a much more subtle way to achieve a better work-life balance.
“Retirement is about doing your job at minimal cost to achieve work-life balance,” says LinkedIn career expert Blair Heitmann . “For many, this is a way to achieve a better work-life balance, as well as the last step away from a culture of hustle and bustle. This could mean finding more appropriate boundaries at work, such as leaving work on time every day, or it could mean turning down projects that are outside of your job responsibilities, or completely refusing to respond to team emails and messages outside of work hours.”
It makes sense that people are looking for more work-life balance. According to Heitmann, a LinkedIn poll found that 40% of working Americans felt more burnt out during the pandemic than before. Another study found that one in three U.S. workers would consider a pay cut if the job offered a better work-life balance (33%) or a more enjoyable job (33%).
If this sounds plausible to you, you may be wondering if you should start quietly quitting your own job. If you’re struggling with whether to quit your job or just set stricter boundaries, here’s what to consider
Should I start throwing quietly?
“If you’re comfortable leaving because you need work-life balance and still live up to expectations at work, that might be the right move,” Heitmann says. “Any changes you can make to help you focus more on your priorities while allowing you to spend more time on areas where you can make the most impact will help you be happy and satisfied with your job.”
But if you’re quietly leaving because you’re not motivated or dissatisfied with your job, and/or you don’t live up to the expectations of your role as a result, Heitmann says it might be time to find something. more. If you’re not sure what’s the best thing to do, Heitmann recommends asking yourself these questions to understand what you need:
- Is work-life balance enough? Do you have healthy boundaries?
- Can you grow? Can you study?
- Are you proud of the culture in the workplace? Do you have influence?
“Then write what you’re here for.” Job satisfaction is different for everyone, so take the time to reconsider before you quietly quit, resign, or ask for a job change,” she says.
Then compare these two lists and ask yourself if you can work on any of these items to improve your performance. Are there areas where you can add more balance or spice up your role? Then ask yourself the following questions that can help improve your current work situation:
- Could you arrange for more work-from-home days or a more flexible schedule?
- Are on-the-job training opportunities available to help you improve your skills, or company-sponsored access to training resources?
- Could you move to another department where you could learn a new role with different opportunities.
- Perhaps you could work for another team or boss?
How to set better boundaries for yourself at work
If you need to quit smoking quietly because of your own inability to set boundaries for yourself, Heitmann suggests assessing whether you’re spending time on important, important things at work, or if you’re being dragged into work that you could let go. . “Then have an open and honest conversation with your manager to make sure you’re focused on the right areas and evaluate how you can make a difference to improve your situation.”
For those who are overworked and need to control their work time, Heitmann recommends blocking your calendar before or after the work day to ensure you don’t get dragged into meetings during your personal time.
And most importantly: “Turn off when you are off! Many professionals used to have to commute to work to switch between work hours and personal time, but with many working remotely, that transition has been lost. To help you transition from work to personal life, try setting up a new template – I like to take a walk when I finish my work day to break it up. Another transitional trick: try turning off your computer at a certain time so you don’t get dragged into checking email when you walk past your desk after hours.”
How to Talk to Your Supervisor If You’re Thinking of Quietly Quitting
While quietly quitting may seem like a satisfying solution (if not a bandwagon you can cling to), it won’t bring you long-term results, and it won’t really solve the larger problem of striking the right balance between your work and life priorities. Instead, Heitmann says, you’d be better off communicating openly and honestly with your manager so that together you can resolve any issues you may have.
If you’re struggling with how to start this dialogue, she recommends you: “First, use introspection, including any questions you’ve asked yourself about your work priorities and pain points, to help guide the conversation with your manager. Whatever you can ask for that could help you – a shorter work day or a shorter work week, more respect for non-working hours, etc. – and ask away.