If you’re not familiar with the term “quiet quitting,” it’s time to get acquainted. Quiet quitting is the new trend where people are NOT actually quitting, but are doing their best during their work hours and then setting boundaries around their non-work time. Quiet quitting isn’t about giving up, instead, it’s about taking back your peace of mind and deciding your personal life does matter, after all.

This shift is being driven by a workforce that is increasingly overwhelmed and overworked. In fact, a recent study found that nearly half of all Americans feel burned out at work. It’s no wonder people are quietly quitting; they simply can’t keep up the hustle forever.

If you’re a manager, don’t be one of the “boys crying wolf” that our workforce is doomed. This is an opportunity for us to recalibrate as a culture that has become too focused on hustling. Instead, let’s focus on creating a work environment that is sustainable and calming—one where people can do their best work without sacrificing their personal lives.

What’s Behind the Quiet Quitting Trend?

There are a few key factors behind this trend. First, the traditional 9-5 workday is no longer realistic for many people. With technology becoming more and more advanced, we have the ability to work from anywhere at any time. For some people, this is a dream come true. But for others, it’s a nightmare. They feel like they can never really disconnect from work because their boss or co-workers can always reach them via email or text message. This can lead to burnout pretty quickly.

Second, many people have started to feel like their personal lives don’t matter as much as their professional lives. They’re working longer hours and sacrificing important things like time with family and friends, hobbies, and self-care in order to advance their careers. But at what cost? This way of living is not sustainable in the long run and it’s no wonder that people are starting to rebel against it.

Last, but not least, there’s been a shift in our cultural values in recent years. We’ve become way too focused on hustling and grinding 24/7 in order to be successful. But what does success really mean? Is it really worth sacrificing our health and happiness just to make a few extra dollars? I think we can all agree that the answer is no.

How to Create a Calm Work Environment

There are a few key things you can do to create a calm work environment.

Encourage Breaks

Too often, we see employees skipping lunch or working through break periods. This is counter-productive and only leads to burnout. Instead, encourage your employees to take breaks—and make sure they actually do it! Set up a system where they can clock out for lunch without feeling guilty and ensure there are plenty of opportunities for them to take quick breaks throughout the day.

Promote Balance

Help your employees find a healthy balance between their work and personal lives. That might mean offering flexible scheduling options or encouraging them to take vacation days. One way to promote balance is by ending each day at 5 p.m.—no exceptions! This sends the message that you value your employees’ time outside of work and want them to enjoy their evenings and weekends without stress.

Create Opportunities for Connections

We all need human connection, but sometimes it’s hard to find time for socializing when we’re busy at work. As a manager, you can create opportunities for connections by organizing regular social events or starting an employee book club. These small changes can make a big difference in terms of promoting calmness and preventing burnout.

Conclusion

Quiet quitting may be on the rise, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on our workforce. This is an opportunity for us to create more sustainable, calming workplaces where people can thrive both professionally and personally. By encouraging breaks, promoting balance, and creating opportunities for connections, we can make positive changes that will benefit everyone involved.

If you’re feeling burned out or like you’re sacrificing too much of your personal life for your career, know that you’re not alone. The trend of quiet quitting is on the rise for a reason. It’s time for us to reevaluate our priorities as a culture and start putting our mental and physical health first. Your personal life does matter—don’t be afraid to set boundaries around it!

If you need ideas to help you get started setting healthy boundaries and carving out time for your personal life, check out the Toxic Workplace Survival Guide available at Amazon.