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- Employee engagement dropped last year and experts say this could hurt workers' mental health.
- Enjoying your time at work is a crucial part of happiness and life satisfaction, Insider reported.
- Employees and career coaches share trips for creating workplace satisfaction.
"Quiet quitting" went viral last year when workers across age groups and industries began speaking publicly about their burnout remedies. While quiet quitting has several meanings, depending on who you ask, many define the term as simply doing what's expected of you at work – nothing more, nothing less.
In June 2022, at least 50% of workers across the country were quiet-quitting, according to a poll by Gallup. Many quiet quitters fit Gallop's definition of being "not engaged" at work because, if they only do the minimum required, they are psychologically detached from their jobs. However, worker engagement is on a downward trajectory.
Engagement for employees 35 years and younger dropped from 40% in 2020 to 33% in 2022, while engagement for workers over 35 dipped from 35% to 32% in the same time frame, according to Gallop. Meanwhile, experts warn that being engaged with and enjoying your time at work is crucial in maintaining your mental health and happiness, Insider reported.
Insider spoke with employees and career coaches to understand how workers can find a balance between being engaged and avoiding burning out. They say restructuring their days and finding alternative ways to meet their job requirements have resulted in an uptick in happiness, productivity, and a desire to stay in their roles.
"That awareness of knowing that maybe I don't have to do as much as I thought I did is making me feel better," said Tay L, a corporate lawyer and quiet quitter who asked Insider not to use her last name to prevent any conflicts with her employer. "It's helping me not burn out as much, and I'm actually doing a better job at work because I'm not resentful or tired all the time."
Focusing on work-life balance, taking inventory of the most and least enjoyable tasks, and embracing the essential parts of a role can help create workplace satisfaction, especially for those who can't afford to or don't want to leave their positions.
Set a daily schedule based on work and personal priorities
To find time in the day for both the tasks that are required and the tasks that make you feel fulfilled, restructure your calendar, said Bridgitt Haarsgaard, the founder and CEO of The GAARD Group, a corporate-leadership-training company.
"For the things that are really important, or the things that you really like, try to structure those around your most energetic times of day," Haarsgaard told Insider.
For example, Haarsgaard feels the most energized in the mornings, so she will start her day by doing the work that motivates her.
Additionally, Tay L, whose typical workday goes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., suggests scheduling time for yourself throughout the day. For her, if there's a chunk of her day without meetings or deadlines, she'll put a personal meeting on her calendar.
"Send yourself a meeting invite just for an hour or two to go walk outside and stretch your legs. Take a workout class," she said. "I pencil it into my calendar so that I prioritize the things that I need for myself."
Setting these boundaries and being intentional with her schedule have helped her mental health tenfold and kept her accountable and productive while working, she said.
Prioritize professional development
It can be frustrating to feel stuck in a position you don't love while you watch former colleagues move on to new opportunities, but Lupe Colangelo, a career coach and outcomes manager at General Assembly, says sticking around can lead to greater fulfillment down the line.
For example, if you're unhappy in your role, Colangelo suggests taking classes or workshops to strengthen your skills in areas that interest you. That way, you'll be ready for a job that better aligns with your wants and skills.
Lynn Luong, founder of a career development startup, suggests volunteering or seeking out internal professional-development opportunities. For example, some companies offer workers the chance to pursue pro-bono or community work as volunteers, Huong said. Take on these more fulfilling roles if you're looking "to still be succeeding in your work and furthering yourself but in the guise of that 9-to-5," Luong said.
Pursuing external goals can also help fill professional voids, Tay L said.
"Sometimes people think that their job is their entire identity," she said, adding that while her role was once her dream job, quiet quitting and starting a side hustle had helped her see the "bigger picture" — including discovering other passions.
"Having this other thing that really makes me feel like I have a purpose was even more incentive to set boundaries," she said. "Now when I'm working, I'm focused on work, but I'm super efficient in getting work done so I can focus on my business."
Communicate your needs with your manager
People don't usually leave bad jobs; "they leave bad managers," Arika Pierce, a freelance career and leadership coach, said.
A toxic boss and work environment are what drove Danielle Farage to leave her previous employer, she said. After leaving that job, she said she found a team that respected her. But that didn't come without being assertive and clear with what she needed as an employee, said Farage, who now works as the director of marketing at the human-resources-technology startup Café.
She started by crafting a list of concrete goals and requesting that her boss review them with her.
"That's so tangible to ask for, and it's also not too much work for them because you're the one coming up with the goals," Farage said.
Beyond professional goals, it's also important to share personal needs. Living in a New York City apartment, Farage told her manager she felt stuck working from home every day. She asked whether the company would help pay for an alternative workspace, and it accepted.
In the new coworking space, she's been able to find community and motivation, which has helped with her workplace productivity and enjoyment, she said.
Taking initiative on both professional and personal priorities has prevented Farage from quiet-quitting because she feels in control of her situation, she added.
"One of the best ways to evoke change in a company is to be the one to take initiative," Farage said.