The Rise of “Quiet Quitting”: A New Term, an Old Struggle?
Lately, the term “quiet quitting” has exploded across social media and infiltrated water cooler conversations (or perhaps, the digital water cooler that is Slack). It’s the notion of doing the bare minimum at work, not going above and beyond, and mentally checking out once the clock hits 5 PM. But is this really a novel concept, or have we simply slapped a catchy label on the age-old struggle for work-life balance?
From Hustle Culture to Boundary Setting: Understanding the Shift
For years, “hustle culture” reigned supreme. We were bombarded with messages of productivity hacks, side hustles, and the glorification of the “grind.” But as burnout became rampant and the lines between work and personal life blurred, especially during the pandemic, many individuals began questioning this relentless pursuit of “more.”
Enter: the desire for boundaries. People are no longer willing to sacrifice their well-being on the altar of workaholism. They crave time for hobbies, relationships, and simply existing without the pressure to constantly produce. This shift in mindset is arguably what fuels the “quiet quitting” phenomenon.
