As a fresh graduate, starting your life as an employee seems very exciting, doesn’t it? You finally start making money, start your career, and learn what independence means. But in that excitement, you often don’t factor in the office politics, working with colleagues you don’t always like, a micro-managerial boss, or not getting the pay you think you deserve. And often, these factors are enough to make a person quit their job. When the workplace seems daunting, the best possible solution people find is to leave that job. Work and peer pressure add to the strain and you often feel like you might break. These have led to employees disengaging from their work emotionally and intellectually, which is called quiet quitting. But quiet quitting has found its counterpart in quiet thriving. What is it and how does one quietly thrive?
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What is quiet thriving?
Quiet thriving is the opposite of quiet quitting. While the latter is when employees do the bare minimum and quit in silence, quiet thriving is the idea that employees grow and evolve in silence. Quiet thriving involves people taking measures to engage with their work – mentally and emotionally. They find a way to mitigate the negatives of the work environment, like too much pressure, and reconnect with their job. This doesn’t mean that you don’t take care of your mental health. It just means that you find a way to reengage with your job without compromising your mental health.
How to thrive at work
1. Set clear boundaries
As with anything in life, your workplace also needs clear boundaries. While working 14-18 hours every day is glorified in today’s day and age, it is also the leading cause of burnout in young professionals. So, set clear timings for your work. Divide your work within the 8-9 hours that you are on the job, factor in your breaks, and stay focused on work. Leave aside the temptation of checking your email after work hours. This will let you create a healthy balance between your work and family. While you are at work, stay focused on work, and while you are home, focus on your personal life.
2. Set new intentions
More than goals, set intentions for yourself. When you set intentions, you are more driven to achieve them because not achieving a goal often leads to despair. Set achievable intentions for yourself, whether it is aiming for a promotion, making yourself better at a particular task, or starting something new at your current job. This will help you map out the direction you want for your career.
3. Be honest
Negativity at the workplace often affects your work as well. So, don’t let the toxicity of the work environment dull your spirits. Approach the HR, manager, or a trusted colleague, and share your honest thoughts with them. Ask them for support or advice to navigate the rocky terrain that is your workplace. Because if you bottle up the anger and frustration, it will lead to emotional exhaustion and subsequent burnout.
4. Create new friendships
Having trusted friends at the workplace is very important. Because when things go to hell in a handbasket, they are the ones who are most likely to give you support. While a friend at the office can help take the pressure off your shoulders, they can also provide a sense of belonging. Feeling out of place at work often leads to dissatisfaction and subsequent failure to do a good job.
5. Take frequent breaks
Taking a 10-minute break every couple of hours will do you some good. Working eight hours at a stretch will just leave you exhausted. So, remember to pause and breathe in between your tasks. Stretch a bit, doodle in your notebook, listen to a couple of songs, have a coffee, and take a break. But don’t extend your break beyond those 10 minutes, because you still need to do the job that pays the bills.
6. Find something you love about your job
Your mindset makes all the difference in a professional environment. If you are constantly in a negative mindset, it will impact your work as well. So, make a list of the things you love about the job and focus on them. It could be a particular task you are assigned, something you are trying to learn, or something completely out of your comfort zone. Make a note of it, and stick it on your desk so that you can review this note daily and update it when needed.
7. Tailor your role to your strengths
There are limitations to this concept, but find a middle ground that works for you and your employer. Tailor your role to play to your strengths. Find opportunities that allow you to showcase your interests and strengths, or else create an opportunity. Of course, you still need to do your daily job but find a way to incorporate your forte into it. This will not only make you a good employee but also help you enjoy your job.
8. Celebrate your accomplishments
Make it a point to celebrate all the wins – big or small. This will boost your confidence and motivate you to do better. Even if you achieve a small target, celebrate it. Make a list of all your achievements and on the days that you feel undervalued or unworthy, your accomplishment list can be your pick-me-up.
9. Prioritise your personal wellbeing
You can only do well in your job if you are doing well in other areas of your life, and this includes your health. A healthy mind and body work better than a body struggling to keep up. So, prioritise your sleep and health, because that leads to holistic positivity and motivation.
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