August 25, 2022

I came to know the term while watching TikTok. The content creator tackles about a person who was passionate at work before but lose it while she stays longer in the company. Those who stays at work to finish the job, are now coming home on time, thinking that the job could be done for tomorrow. Those who are willing to learn and expand their knowledge, are already tired and just do what they need to do that are in front of them.

I cannot blame those individuals for feeling that way, as I have that kind of feeling last Tuesday. The company declared an early out at 2 in the afternoon due to typhoon warnings. I automatically felt relieved although I didn't expect it to happen, yet still I want to go home. There are still work to be done but I am thinking of my own safety so I want to go home. As my officemates were one by one getting out of the office, my feet was itchy to grab my bag to go home too, unfortunately another set of documents where given to me and it was requested to be done immediately.

The old me will accept it and do it willingly, as the old me doesn't want a job to be left undone, but the new me felt irritated while doing the report needed. I noticed my officemates are not complaining at all. They already know or perhaps we all know that our department are normally not going home even though there was an advisory. Our team are known to stay for long in the office always. We are not excuse at all and our manager doesn't care. We adopted her hardworking attitude that doesn't care about her safety.

I told myself, while doing the report, I will go home. I will go home after this. Nothing can stop me. If they want to stay, then stay, but I'm leaving and going home. I did and I feel relieved prioritising myself. I am not sure about my team's side comment if there is. I don't care. I am unbotherd. For me I was advise to go home and I am not guilty about what I did.

Is this Quiet Quitting?

To be honest I don't understand it at first, even so, I found myself doing it. I am not that hardworking anymore. I realize that I am only stressing myself and tiring my body. I am not getting any younger so I must look on my health, especially my mental health.

Also the company doesn't recognized or appreciate me and what I do. Yes, there are times they thanking the employees, even the managers thanking their team members, but I don't feel the sincerity at all. Sometimes I am in doubt if I am really needed, I prefer to think that when I quit I am easily replaced.

I feel like I am just working for money. There are learnings, I embrace it everyday, but some co-officemate are not with the same energy as mine. They are not doing their best to learn. Mistakes become normal and they will just change it. They already depend on our team to double check them when it is not part of the job anymore.

That is also the reason I get tired. I am doing more jobs that are not in my job description. I have lots of responsibilities that should be not mine and I am underpaid, while some individuals at work are working less but receiving more. How can you inspire to work like that? Team work makes the dream work, but not all in the team are working fair, they outsmart us and they keep on doing that.

I get tired. I am not happy at all. I might be laughing at jokes but the sound of the laugh has lots of air. I laugh because I'm just stress or I am relieving it. It is not fair anymore. Specifically, quiet quitting can be resolve but that depends on the person doing it. I am not quitting my job soon, but I am not having the same energy I was and I am not sure if it will come back. Or maybe I am just burnout?

All images are from Unsplash