Quiet quitting is the latest buzzword in the professional world. What does it mean? Despite what it sounds like, it doesn’t mean resigning out of nowhere or quitting without telling your boss. It’s when workers continue doing their expected tasks but refuse to go above and beyond those expectations. No more working until late, no more saying yes to impromptu, off-the-clock tasks, and no more putting in extra effort that’s not needed.

One can argue that quiet quitting is just doing one’s job and shouldn’t be considered a negative thing. As the pandemic continues and perspectives are renewed, workers are starting to realize that “going above and beyond” is no longer necessary in the grander scheme of things, and is just a way for employers to get more work out of them without compensating them fairly for it.

That being said, you can still find motivation to do your job and not just “show up” so you can build your career, without being taken advantage of by your employer.

Take a vacation or a break

If you’re struggling with a tough habit, it may be time to take a break. You can’t keep running the same old route forever without getting tired or burned out.

You need to take some time away from whatever is causing you strife and focus on yourself instead of your routine. This will help you realize what your priorities are and how they’ve changed over time.

Get support — and give it

The first step to quitting is getting support. You can get that by talking with friends and family, finding a mentor or coach, joining an online group, or seeking out a community of people who are motivated in similar ways. There are plenty of options for how you can get help along the way!

Write it out

To start, write down your goals. In a journal or electronic notes app of your choosing, make a list of what you want to accomplish in the next month or so and then break that goal down into smaller steps.

Next, write down your progress toward each step along the way. Again, this can be done on paper or in an electronic document—it doesn’t matter as long as it’s accessible when needed!

Finally, share this information with someone else who will encourage you to keep moving forward (perhaps even more than one person).

Use the right words

When you’re trying to motivate yourself, it’s important to use the right words. To get started with your new routine and stick with it, try using positive language in your goal-setting:

• Use the word “I” instead of “you.” This will help remind you that this is something that only YOU can do, so no one else has any role in making it happen for you (other than maybe family members or friends).
• Use words like yet or never instead of never ever. These two phrases are both negative and don’t inspire confidence when used as part of a goal setting strategy! Instead think about how far along those things have come since then—and what’s yet ahead?

Find an accountability partner

Find someone who is also working on a similar goal. They’ll be there to hold you accountable and keep you motivated as they see your progress. The best part? You can be honest with them! They won’t judge or push you to do more than what’s realistic for them; instead, they’ll cheer on your hard work and help keep things positive in the process of achieving their own goals.

Think of the small picture as well as the big

One of the most important things you can do is to stay motivated by not trying to do everything at once. You’ll be more likely to succeed if you focus on one thing at a time, and don’t worry about what else needs doing in the meantime. It’s okay if your first step doesn’t always go smoothly. You can stay motivated when you don’t make a big deal of things by taking small steps toward your goal instead of trying to tackle everything at once. 

Set realistic goals that you can achieve. Break down your goals into smaller steps, so they’re more manageable and attainable. Don’t forget to celebrate your small victories along the way!

Be part of a highly-motivated team

Quiet quitting may be a way to have your cake and eat it too, and in some ways, it’s justified. But why settle for doing the bare minimum when you can have a satisfying career that makes you happy and builds growth?

With Remote Workmate, you work with our Client Success Managers who help make sure you’re matched with the right role and the right client so that you’re motivated to do good work. And on the days you’re not as motivated, you can go to them as well and they can serve as mediators between you and your employer to find solutions.

We care about giving our workmates the tools and opportunities to build their careers and accelerate their success. Ready to be part of our team? Check our listings below to find the perfect job.