Quiet Quitting

I’ve been thinking a lot about the recently popular term “quiet quitting.” This is the act of only preforming your job requirements and not going above and beyond your job duties in an effort to not become burned out. Like many others, I’ve also suffered from burnout, but I don’t like this term. To me, “quitting” assumes that all work stops. For me, it’s more of a “quiet no.” A gentle reminder that our mental health is important. That work will still get done, but not at the expense of our health. That boundaries are essential.  

Libraries and library workers are revered in many ways. We even have an action figure wearing a cape and described as a hero. If heroes often make sacrifices for the greater good, what does that say about librarians? Maybe the work we do is heroic, but we’re still human.  

We’re no strangers to budget cuts or even hiring freezes. We’re often asked to do more with less. When I was in college and decided I wanted to explore librarianship as a possible career, I found an internship at a local public library to learn more. I remember discussing my interest with the librarians there, and immediately being told by one in particular, “there’s no money in libraries, don’t become a librarian.” That was over 10 years ago. If library workers were stressed and burned out 10 years ago and still are, then clearly something needs to change. A quiet, polite “no” to adding one more thing to your plate may be the start of the solution.  

When talking about quiet quitting, it’s important to also recognize the privilege of being able to say “no.” There will always be circumstances where saying “no” truly is not on option. Maybe your library has very few workers, or you’re the only one with certain expertise. But I want to challenge us to find ways, even small ones, to protect ourselves. This could be not volunteering to take the notes for the meeting, or blocking off your lunch hour in your calendar and committing to take your deserved breaks. If you’re in a manager role, it’s also important to model this behavior. Check in with your staff to see how they are coping and offer support if you’re able. 

Saying “no” takes practice. Offer yourself grace and self-compassion, and reap the benefits of a quiet no.