Work, Well-being & The Hustle Shift 🎙️ 🔥

Hello everyone and welcome to Mind Over Work, where we're going to have those real life conversations about mental health in the workplace. I am Dr. Jessica Green and we're diving into the controversial topic of quiet quitting. Some call it laziness, while others call it setting boundaries. But is it really quitting or is it just choosing self preservation or over burnout? So we're going to break that down a little bit. Quiet quitting blew up on social media, but what does it actually mean? It's not about quitting your job, it's about quitting the idea that you have to go above and beyond for a company that sees you as replaceable.

What does it look like? It looks like doing only what's in your job description, not unpaid work. It looks like saying no to extra work that doesn't come with extra pay. And it looks like choosing your personal well being over the hustle culture mindset. And yet some people call it laziness. But is it really laziness or is it just the natural response to burnout and a toxic work culture? So let's talk about the impact of staying in a job that drains you, increases your sense of irritability and possibly that isolation.

So if you're stuck in an environment where you feel undervalued, you feel overworked and uninspired, it can take a toll on your mental health. You feel emotionally exhausted where you're constantly drained at work and even outside of work, where it's taken away your quality time with your family, your friends, and you being able to be your true authentic self. Your self worth takes a hit where you start questioning if you're good enough and if you're worthy enough, you start becoming disengaged.

Where Monday. So like a punishment and Sunday night we have that anxiety looking forward into Monday. So quiet quitting is often a survival mechanism. So if your job won't respect your boundaries, you have to set them for yourself. But the real question is, does it actually help or does it make you feel stuck? So how do you protect yourself, your mental health, without completely checking out of your career? So here are some strategies that I want you to write down. The first is redefine success on your terms.

You are writing this narrative, so if you're climbing the corporate ladder and you feel as if it's not for you, that's okay. Because success doesn't have to mean working yourself into exhaustion, and many of us do that. The second is communicate your boundaries clearly. If you're overworked, have you had that conversation with your boss. You have to advocate your workload adjustments before you become mentally checked out on the job. Number three, Find purpose beyond your job. If your job doesn't fulfill you, focus on hobbies.

Focus on side projects or even skills that bring you joy. Your work shouldn't be your entire identity. And lastly, make a plan, not just a protest. If quiet quitting is a sign that you're unhappy, don't just disengage. Use that energy to find your next move. Whether it's a new job, a career shift, or even an exit plan, have a strategy. So is quiet quitting bad? Not necessarily. But if you find yourself in that space, I want you to ask yourself, is it a temporary boundary or is it a sign you need something better?

If this episode hits home for you, I want you to share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you've got thoughts on quiet quitting, I love to hear your take on it. Until next time, take care of your mindset. Your job is just a job, and you have to make sure you make yourself a priority. As always, be courageous, have compassion, build connections, and always be true to yourself.