Quiet quitting 2.0 – The rise of calm careers

Remember when quiet quitting went viral ia few years ago? It was painted as laziness, but really it was about boundaries, choosing not to sacrifice personal wellbeing for work. Now, in 2025, that idea has evolved into what I'm seeing as Quiet Quitting 2.0 - also called calm careers. This isn’t about slacking off... It’s about working in a way that’s sustainable, meaningful, and mentally healthy.

What is Quiet Quitting 2.0?

Quiet Quitting 2.0 builds on the original idea, moving from survival mode to proactive, values-led living. It’s about:

• Choosing sustainable workloads over constant hustle

• Defining career success by your metrics

• Protecting time for relationships, health, and joy

• Creating space for creativity and rest

This is not a rejection of ambition, it’s a rejection of burnout.

Why is the shift happening now?

Post-pandemic burnout reality

We’ve seen how prolonged stress affects health and relationships, and people are less willing to pay that price.

Generational influence

Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping workplace culture by demanding flexibility, mental health support, and work-life balance.

The 'Great Reshuffle'

Career changes and flexible work options have opened the door to more personalised career choices.

Mainstream therapy culture

Talking about emotions at work is less taboo - which means more people are openly prioritising mental wellbeing.

Why is this personal for me?

I had the pleasure of meeting Adrienne Lee (Director of the Berne Institute) who described a life lesson perfectly... is how you are living enlivening or deadening? If something brings you alive - keep doing it. If something is deadening - walk away from it.

I used to work in a full-time corporate role - long hours, back-to-back meetings, a diary that wasn’t really mine. it was deadening to me.

Like many of my clients now, I thought the solution was to push harder. That if I just proved myself enough, I’d finally be able to slow down. That if I just kept earning more money, that would bring me joy. That if I kept working my way up the 'ladder' then i'll find success. I was exhausted, and how I was living and what I was doing, just wasn't... me.

So I made the scariest and best decision of my life: I retrained and built my counselling business. Not because it was the easy route (it wasn’t) but because it gave me alignment - with my values, my energy, and my sense of purpose.

What it gives me now is choice and an opportunity to explore what I want in my life. That’s why this topic matters so much to me. I’ve lived the “hustle at all costs” life, and I’ve lived the “calm career” life. One of them made me constantly anxious; the other allows me to breathe.

The emotional costs of overworking

Signs you may be stuck in unsustainable work patterns include:

• Constant fatigue (even after rest)

• Irritability or low mood

• Sunday night dread

• Difficulty switching off

• Feeling resentful or undervalued

These are more than bad days — they’re red flags from your nervous system.

How to shift toward a calm career

1. Audit your energy, not just your time

Track your week to see which tasks energise you and which drain you.

2. Define your “Enough”

Set clear standards for workload, performance, and growth - and stick to them.

3. Communicate boundaries clearly

Example: “I can focus on that first thing tomorrow” or “I’m happy to help within my capacity - here’s what I can offer.”

4. Build micro-moments of calm into your day

Breathing exercises, lunch away from your desk, and mini stretch breaks all help regulate stress.

5. Align work with your core values

Reflect on whether your current role matches your personal priorities - and if not, what small changes could help.

Quiet Quitting 2.0 is about emotional maturity, not laziness. Protecting your mental health makes you more effective, creative, and resilient over time.

You’re allowed to choose calm

Your worth is not defined by how much you sacrifice for your job. You’re allowed to create a career that sustains you - mentally, emotionally, and physically.... And if that feels daunting, therapy can help you explore your options without guilt.

Ready to create your own version of a calm career? Take a look at my counselling services and find out how therapy can support you.