Is Quitting The New Form of Self-Care?

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Employees are no longer sacrificing their mental health.

Thoughts of quiet quitting, loud quitting, and even fantasy quitting occupied many of my friends’ minds after the topic surfaced on social media for a few months. Just last year, my friends and I were fresh out of college and happily running full speed into the business world. However, now they look like disappointed toddlers if the word “work” is even uttered. Sadly, this is the reaction many employees have when discussing their careers.

Multiple social media users have proudly announced leaving their jobs to enter new fields, some have bluntly quit with no backup plans and others have even celebrated getting fired. Yes, you read that correctly, celebrated being fired! Their reactions have me wondering if quitting is becoming the new form of self-care or even just a desperate moment for a breath of fresh air.

Growing up my mother would always say, “desperate people, do desperate things.” I never realized the true meaning behind it until that day.

My friend called me and said she did the unthinkable, quit! All my friends immediately did a “Deliver Us From Eva” moment. Everyone hurried on the phone to comfort her with words that seemed to be difficult to find. We talked for hours while digging deep into her reasons for quitting. 

My other friends even talked about their reasons for wanting to quit. We realized everyone’s reasons were no different than the reasons we read online. For them, it was a relief to know they weren’t expecting perfection. I have listed down below poor decisions or experiences that led employees to leave their jobs. 

1. Lacking A Internship – She contributed to her defeat

One of my friends admitted that obtaining no prior experience led to her leaving the company. On paper, the job was everything she could have asked for, but the reality was she hated it. She said she felt the company made the position sound sweeter than it was. However, it all boiled down to her not going after an internship for that specific role in college. Instead, she ran after all the wrong things.

2. Lack Of Diversity – Companies contribute to the loss of good employees

It is necessary for every employee to see a reflection of themselves within the company, especially in leadership. I’m not sure how to explain it, but seeing someone that looks like I do, gives me a touch of comfort.

Example: Watching a Black man or another Black woman in a leadership position gives me a boost of confidence! ! Most importantly, it sets an example of what I can do.

Refusing Salary Increases – Companies, just lost another one

I watched a video of Viola Davis speaking about the lack of payment within the acting industry. I have witnessed my friends speak of the lack of pay within their field. The cost of living has risen for Nashville, but jobs are refusing to increase employees’ salaries.

Employees can not do their best if they’re stressed about paying utilities or rent. It is difficult to focus when something lingers in the back of someone’s head.

3. Burn-out – Companies and employers have contributed to this defeat

According to the world health organization, burnout syndrome is a result of chronic workplace stress that has not been taken care of. It is described in three dimensions: 

• feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
• reduced professional efficacy.

Furthermore, these are the significant consequences of burnout:

• Excessive stress
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Sadness, anger, or irritability
• Alcohol or substance misuse
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Vulnerability to illnesses

4. A Toxic Workplace – Multiple Factors Contribute

Signs of a toxic workplace aren’t as obvious as people would believe. These types of workspaces can act like a bad relationship. Toxic behavior from work associates can be difficult to point out if they are accepted in the workplace. Unfortunately, that is how it all starts. My mother has always said, one poisoned piece of fruit has the ability to spoil an entire bowl of fruit if it stays there long enough.

A career site, topresume.com, made a list and labeled it as a sign of a toxic workplace. Here it is:

• High Turnover: When the work environment has nothing good to offer except dysfunction, poor morale, and sickness, colleagues will start heading for the door to find a better situation. If you notice a high turnover rate in your company or department, take that as a sign of a toxic workplace.
• Cliques, Gossip, and Rumors: Everyone seems to be out for themselves, and there are no genuine friendships among coworkers. There’s lots of infighting and paranoia as well as office gossip and rumors.
• Narcissistic Leadership: Your higher-ups or boss demand that you always agree with them, tell them they’re right, and feel they’re above the rules. They expect everyone else to be perfect while they can meet lower standards.
• Little to No Enthusiasm: Look around the office. Does anyone appear to be happy working there? Is anyone ever smiling? If people typically seem downright miserable to be working at the company, you can assume the work environment is toxic.
• Employee Sickness: Toxic work environments lead to employee burnout, fatigue, and illness due to high levels of stress that wreak havoc on our bodies. If people are calling in sick or worse, are working sick, that’s a good sign of a toxic work environment.

• Lack of Communication or Negative Communication: You and others don’t get the necessary information to do your job. You work hard with no positive feedback and no recognition, and you might even be told to be glad you have a job at all.

I conclude with my belief, letting go of what causes your mental health to decline is self-care; that counts for your job too.

According to a wellness site, verywellmind.com, self-care has been defined as “a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being.”

An older woman once told me that a great job will have you serving others while still providing you with a level of fulfillment at the end of the day.

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