Easing Out: Understanding quiet quitting
This is post 3/5 on the warning signs that your work might be affecting your mental health, using the acronym VTECH:
V - Void Filling
E - Easing Out
C - Craving Perfection
H - Hyperactive Mind
You've stopped going the extra mile. You're no longer volunteering for projects, staying late to solve problems, or thinking about work during weekends. You do your job, but nothing more.
Quiet quitting is your way of reclaiming your time and energy, yet you may feel guilty about it or worry about your job security.
You Are Not Alone:
Quiet quitting is a rational response to an irrational situation:
You consistently give your all and see no recognition, advancement, or appreciation.
The guilt you feel reflects years of conditioning to believe your worth is tied to your output—but it's not.
Trust the Experts:
The term "quiet quitting" gained prominence as employees recognized they didn't need to resign to change their relationship with work. The American Psychological Association notes that employees who maintain work-life boundaries report better mental health, lower stress, and ironically, often greater long-term productivity.
Setting limits on your availability and effort isn't disloyal; it's a sustainable way to remain in your job while protecting your wellbeing.
Changes You Can Make:
You need to formalize your boundaries and communicate them clearly.
Set a specific work end time and stick to it—no checking email after hours or on weekends.
Learn to say no to projects that don't align with your role or capacity.
Stop attending non-essential meetings.
Use your reclaimed time for genuine rest and activities that feed your soul. As you recover, evaluate whether this role or company can ever truly align with your needs. This is your chance to move from unconscious withdrawal to conscious, intentional choices about your work and life.
The Payoff:
With clear boundaries and reclaimed personal time, your mental health improves significantly.
You'll gain clarity about what you truly want from your career, whether that's staying in your current role with healthier boundaries, finding a better-aligned position, or making a bigger change.
You stop running on fumes and start making decisions from a place of strength rather than desperation.
