Perfect Blemish

It’s not that I don’t enjoy my work: I do. I draw inspiration and motivation from my colleagues; but most importantly, we have fun – all these give me satisfaction at the end of each day.  The thing I’m not thrilled about? Work narratives.

I’m no stranger to the era of girl bossing and giving into the hustle culture, that set my career off in university. We’re all just a little tired of the grind, aren’t we? Experiencing a culture-shifting pandemic, the Great Resignation, and disproportionate levels of burnout among young people, most, if not all of us have been left sour. 

We live in a world where everything is always on the go. There’s always somewhere to be and something to do. It’s no longer feasible for many millennials to live a 9-5 lifestyle. Generation Y is learning flexibility and work-life balance, and traditional work models simply cannot provide them. How can we create a work-life balance for ourselves? The answer lies in what has been dubbed “quiet quitting.”

There would hardly be a “trend” without some backlash, and this certainly has. Millennials (one of the most burned-out generations) might be able to attain a little bit of the elusive work-life balance we’ve been looking for with quiet quitting, its misconceptions, buzz worthiness, and how adopting it may help this generation.

What is quiet quitting?
In its simplest sense, employees who quiet quit are essentially working to the rules, in which they are limited to work-related activities during their defined work hours. Unlike its name, quiet quitting actually has nothing to do with quitting your job, but everything to do with working within your work contract specifically. Yep, this means not going “above and beyond”.

I was introduced to this on TikTok and watching the videos made me realize some of the sentiments such as being burnt out resonated with me. This was around a time when I felt I was losing myself in work and couldn’t recognize my boundaries – because my personal life and work life had blurred into one.

Quiet Quitting = Laziness?
A number of publications have equated quiet quitting to laziness, which I think is a farce, and a narrow-minded narrative to guide people back into breaking their backs. What many don’t realize or refuse to acknowledge is that this rebellion is really against toxic work cultures, overworking, and making our whole self-worth about our job.

For me, two divergences have stuck. Investing in mental health and protecting your well-being at all costs is extremely important. Another not-so-gentle approach I’ve jotted down as a daily affirmation is: You are worth more than your job and productivity

People might call it “lazy” to not go beyond the requirements of your job if your compensation doesn’t match your efforts, others might argue it’s more about expectations.

There lies the controversy over the term quiet quitting and the confusion surrounding it.

Similarly, the backlash is also understandable – and I am concerned for those who might be affected the most by it. These expectations must be met, and if some of us choose to fall back, then others must step up.

How to practice quiet quitting in your work life
Sometimes, people often think that being able to step back or not do what’s asked is a luxury to which they are not entitled because of their race, gender, or financial status. How does quitting quietly affect employees who cannot join the new generation of workers who want to be more than just a job? 

Although unable to solve this nerve-wracking question in one article, here are a few tips to help you on your quest for a better work-life balance.

• Setting boundaries for a work
• Forgo perfectionism
• Redefine failure
• Remember your worth – you’re more than your job

It’s not always easy to create your own work-life balance, but it’s definitely possible. With a little creativity and conscious effort, millennials can create the lives they want to live.

Personally, I would prefer a job with minimal effort that affords me the luxury I want, as well as having the emotional space to accommodate myself – spending time doing a hobby, learning a craft, or being in the company of loved ones. Quiet quitting affords us the advantage to live as we please, without tying our self-worth to the job we have – it gives us back our personhood in its own way. Essentially, quiet quitting reduces work to a simple part of our lives rather than a major component.


Asiedua