It isn’t what it sounds like. The hot topic that has circulated social media this year isn’t about formally quitting a job, but is its own form of self-care that involves resigning from overworking and “hustle culture.” It’s more of a way to emotionally quit your job, as the declining enthusiasm for your job offers more space to enjoy what you do outside the office. Ironically, doing so might be what drives your productivity most.
Sitting at your desk 9-5, having a screen time of 10+ hours, counting down the hours, and finding less and less time to attend social occasions or for downtime, it’s easy for the mind to drift to wonder, in a less glamorous but nevertheless Carrie Bradshaw-esque way, Is this all worth it?
Although being busy translates to being on the road to success, neuroscience has proven that humans, even when happy, will continue to want more, more, more. Overworking comes at its own price, and the cost is your time, mental space, and your cortisol (stress) levels. For the people who work at jobs that they don’t care for, the payoff is even smaller. The idea of toxic productivity – a mindset manifested around constantly “doing” things – often disguises itself as ambition, but maybe it’s time to leave the grind behind.
It’s all about your mindset – acceptance, abundance, appreciation. Resisting the urge to improve and accepting yourself as you are is seen by some as complacency, but really this forces you to grow organically on your own terms. With an abundance mindset, you’ll see your life as having more options, more resources and more time. And appreciating each moment you’re in, releasing control and making time for fun will help you be present and ease up on the reins.
In the workplace, how are you valued? Does your boss measure your work ethic by how available you are during all waking hours, or your attention to detail? Depending on what their expectations are, it is completely within your agency to only do what is assigned to you, close your laptop at 5:00pm, and spend the rest of your day doing what you want and not thinking about what you’ll have to do starting at 9:00am tomorrow. Time off should be time spent taking care of yourself. Staying engaged while you are on the clock, your work will speak for itself.
Without inching toward burnout, giving up on the never-ending list of demands can re-energize your passion for what you do. Setting boundaries for your mental health can help you reclaim control, too. For eight hours out of the day, your focus is work; outside of that, you can be fully present for your health, relationships and activities.
So, maybe it’s exactly what it sounds like. The popular trend has to do with quitting toxic and overwhelming work culture, and taking charge to know your value. Checking out is only a short-term fix, but proactively soft-quitting can hold you accountable for your own wellness and result in continual spikes in motivation, while still enjoying your life.
