At some stages in your career, it’s possible for you to fall into the habit of coasting. Often, this probably means you’re just going through the motions and doing the bare minimum. Another phrase people use to describe it lately is “quiet quitting” – which isn’t as bad as some people want to make it seem! I know that’s an unpopular opinion, so I decided to break it down.
Quiet Quitting
For those of you who don’t know, quiet quitting is a rapidly growing movement. Some companies believe quit quitters make up over 50% of the workforce! If you’re not aware of the trend, most people claim quiet quitting is when you do the absolute minimum requirements for a job. That means you don’t go above and beyond, and you give no extra time or effort beyond exactly what you’re being paid for. Obviously, a lot of employers and managers don’t like dealing with quiet quitters, and aren’t fond of the growing trend. However, I have to ask one thing – why do so many other people, the employees, also say that quiet quitting is bad for everyone?
Doing The Bare Minimum Isn’t Necessarily Bad
To be frank, I don’t think quiet quitting and doing the minimum is necessarily bad. I also don’t think the average employee should think so either. You don’t need to give everything to your place of work. Sometimes there are other priorities, like taking care of a new child or focusing on personal matters. Regardless, doing the job’s requirements is supposed to be the standard.
I understand why employers want people to go above and beyond – they’re basically getting labor at a discount. However, they should also understand that quiet quitting is what most people will tend to do at a 9-to-5, which is fine. Of course, if you’re a quiet quitter, it’s also wise to not expect amazing raise or promotions in your future – that’s the real reason to go above and beyond!
Hustle Culture
I believe that the modern hustle culture is part of why quiet quitting is becoming more popular. Inflation is outrageous, and salaries just aren’t keeping up with it. Why should employees give their extra time to their place of work when they can make more money through a side hustle? The reality of it is that side hustles provide a lucrative source of income, which can entice people to let their day job play second fiddle. If employers want to have less quiet quitters and more overachievers, then they should pay according to competency and reward it handsomely in order to promote a culture that attracts that talent.
Working Too Much Is A Serious Problem
Of course, the negative of side hustle culture is that people end up working too much. Putting in 40 hours at your job, then another 20-40 hours at your side hustle can eat up all your free time. It ultimately lends to burnout, a lot of the time.
Finding A Balance
Your personal finances are important. Making money is important. However, remember what you’re working so hard for. It’s crucial to find the right work-life balance for yourself, so don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself needing to reprioritize.
Schedule In Time For R&R
Obviously, if you spend too much energy on just work, then you may end up feeling unfulfilled or miserable. Burning out is a real ordeal, and one that can be avoided by minimizing your workload coupled with the management of stress that can complicate your life. Remember, if you end up burning out, you can set yourself back. If you learn to manage your priorities and balance it with time for rest and relaxation, that can set you ahead. Obviously, we all want to get ahead, but it’s also understandable to pursue other interests and have a break every now and then.
Find Time For Your Passions
Passion can be a good thing, even great at times, but choosing a long-term profession just because of it is dangerous and irresponsible. With that being said, it is incredibly important to incorporate your passions into your lifestyle to a certain extent. Nobody wants to work and hustle all day with no room to pursue things that really drive them and bring them joy – that’ll only lead to burnout in the near future.
Family Time Is Irreplaceable
At the end of the day, life is a bit of a balancing act. We can never have all the answers, and focusing too hard on any one thing can be a bit too much to handle for any individual. You need to strike the right balance between work and play, especially regarding things like spending time with your friends and family.
Working Remote And How That Plays Into This
Many of us love working from home. To be frank, it comes with a ton of nice perks that you don’t get by going into the office. However, some people have changed jobs or never had the chance to work remotely. In that case, it’s always possible for you to negotiate with your employer for the opportunity to work from home. If you find yourself in a situation where you want to pursue side hustles or other sources of income – or just want to let work take a backseat – working remotely can save you a ton of time and make that easier.
In Order To Have A Successful Business Or Side Hustle, Quiet Quitting May Be Necessary
Eventually, you make have to partake in this quiet quitting movement, if you want to grow a side hustle or business. At that point, it may be even better to just quit your day job! Consider all of your options, and think about what aligns the most with your long-term goals.
Conclusion
It’s always easy to take the path of least resistance, but putting in the effort now will only help you in the future. Enjoy your life, but working hard will be rewarding and make you appreciate what you have even more. Quiet quitting could help you focus on other things, or it could just hurt your career. If you have something else to add, let us know in the comments. For more content like this, and a free budgeting template and financial goals tracker, be sure to sign up for the Bitter to Richer newsletter!
