These days it’s a catchphrase that buzzes about, “Quiet Quitting” on everyone’s lips. Here’s how people are using it to take back control of their professional and personal lives. Coined in 2009, the term encapsulates a philosophy that encourages employees to fulfill their contractual obligations without going beyond what is asked of them. This movement has surged globally, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting discussions about its implications in various spheres of life, including work and relationships.
Gestalt therapist Claire Seeber sees Quiet Quitting as an empowering choice. It can be a useful alternative to more extreme measures, such as loud quitting. What Natali really gets across is how there are times when it pays to step back from over-engagement and sometimes disengagement is the right play. In contrast, Annie Duke, author of “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away,” posits that quitting should be a public act that reflects an individual’s values. Both experts offer unique perspectives on this phenomenon, highlighting its relevance in today’s fast-paced world where individuals often feel pressured to continuously perform.
As Quiet Quitting intersects with movements like “tang ping,” which translates to “lying flat” in Chinese culture, it raises questions about the balance between personal fulfillment and professional expectations. This article explores the origins, implications, and real-world applications of Quiet Quitting in today’s world.
Understanding Quiet Quitting
Quiet Quitting is defined by its straightforward premise: employees work only for the hours they are contracted and undertake tasks strictly within their job descriptions. This practice is the complete opposite of the old school notion of exceeding expectations on the job. It frequently does so at the expense of individual health and safety along the way.
The idea came back into focus during the pandemic’s lockdown periods, when many people reconsidered their work-life balance. Written by Claire Seeber, Claire Seeber Quiet Quitting can be a productive act of defiance against the never-ending demands to hustle.
“If the cost of constantly subjugating your own desires is that you’re constantly pissed off, then that’s not a small cost.” – Claire Seeber
This approach helps people manage their own—as well as others’—expectations. Beyond that, though, it acts as a means of self-preservation in a world that often asks us to do more than what we have to offer.
The Global Phenomenon
Quiet Quitting has quickly broken borders, striking chords with millions of workers worldwide. As the Chinese movement “tang ping” advocates, sometimes you just have to take it easy on life. It has a lot in common with the broader concept of Quiet Quitting. Both movements encourage us to listen to our minds and bodies by taking a break from the demands of society and focusing on self-care first.
Quitting, Annie Duke reminds us, needs to be a public act in order to make a real impact.
“Quitting has to be an act that you do publicly. It would only be private if it doesn’t have an effect on anyone else around you.” – Annie Duke
This sentiment is echoed in the concept that Quiet Quitting can seep into the non-workplace, such as in our intimate relationships. People will naturally want to be less participatory in their own lives when the world is troubling, frustrating, or scary.
Additionally, Seeber thinks that modeling this behavior can establish positive precedents for what children and those around them should expect. She really focuses on the role of unconditional love and understanding in these dynamics.
“In therapy, I always come back to ‘What’s the risk if you do something, versus the risk if you don’t?’” – Claire Seeber
This sensible approach pushes people to consider trade-offs carefully before making decisions about investment.
Balancing Expectations and Bravery
Though Quiet Quitting lets a person take a break from all this hustle, it forces a reexamination of cowardice versus courage, and discipline versus enthusiasm. Annie Duke’s latest book Quit highlights the role of courage in making good decisions, especially when it comes to the decision to quit.
“When you get to the point that you’re thinking about quitting, you should have already quit.” – Annie Duke
She argues that discussing misalignments between personal values and job expectations is crucial for fostering better relationships in the workplace.
“You have to have the conversation about how your job isn’t aligning with your values so that your employer can address that.” – Annie Duke
Claire Seeber provides an alternative approach. She proposes that parents are ~quiet quitting~ themselves when they get put in tough situations, like having to resolve sibling battles. A third difference is that parents are often more willing to step aside, letting disputes work themselves out instead of jumping in with both feet.
“Are you talking about the end of the honeymoon period, or are you talking about 15 years of marriage and you’re bored?” – Claire Seeber
Perhaps the most interesting part of this analogy is that it illustrates how Quiet Quitting occurs not just at work, but at home as well.