As one delves deeper into the realm
of the workforce, it becomes evident that our jobs can be a wellspring of joy,
anxiety, and frustration. Each year, new language emerges to express those
long-standing yet often concealed sentiments.
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| Did you love "lazy girl jobs" and "bare minimum Mondays" this year? |
Below, we've compiled a list of viral and compelling terms that encapsulate the intricacies of our professional lives. These are the work words that have come to define the year 2023:
‘Hey’ Hanging
On instant messenger platforms like
Slack, simple greetings can take on heightened importance without the
reassuring context of tone and body language.
That's why a brief "Hey"
on Slack can easily trigger a sense of worry. Without additional context, the
recipient might assume the sender is upset or that they're about to be pulled
into an unwanted project.
The term "‘hey’ hanging"
aptly captures the anxiety that co-workers may unintentionally induce with such
messages.
Pattie Ehsaei, a senior vice
president of mergers and acquisitions lending at a major bank, emphasized the
importance of clear communication in the workplace. Regarding "hey"
hanging, she commented, "All communication at work via email or Slack
should have a clear agenda and purpose. 'Hey' leaves the receiver confused as
to the purpose of the communication and doesn’t initiate a reply."
In the realm of online chats, less isn't always more. When in doubt, it's advisable to over-communicate your intentions, ensuring that your initial message leaves no room for confusion and aligns with a clear purpose.
Bare Minimum Mondays
"Bare minimum Mondays"
have provided people with a fresh perspective on how to approach the start of
their week by doing less.
Marisa Jo Mayes, a content creator
who introduced the term in a TikTok video this year, shared that her practice
of "bare minimum Mondays" was inspired by her experiences in her 20s.
In her video, Mayes recounted the anxiety she felt on Sundays, staying up late
and creating extensive to-do lists that often went uncompleted the next day.
One day, she decided to grant
herself "permission to do the absolute bare minimum for work that day, and
everything felt different. The pressure was gone," Mayes explained in her
TikTok. Since that day, she has been "reaping the benefits of this
practice."
The concept resonated with viewers, evident in the more than 2 million views under the hashtag #bareminimummonday. It reflects a growing desire for permission to ease into the often stressful workweek with a more measured and mindful approach.
Post-Work Restraint Collapse
If you've ever felt the urge to
scream into a pillow or simply collapse on your couch after a challenging day
at work, you might be experiencing something therapists refer to as
"post-work restraint collapse."
This concept describes the profound
exhaustion that stems from draining workdays, and the "collapse" is
the release of pent-up emotions that occurs when you finally feel safe to do
so.
Post-work restraint collapse can
manifest as "a sense of depletion
and having nothing left for other activities, even things that you might really
enjoy, like exercise, spending time with your family, or other social
activities," explained Emily Treichler, a licensed clinical
psychologist.
This weariness can significantly
impact your mood, leading to lowered patience and increased irritability that
may strain relationships with loved ones. It's crucial to address these
symptoms.
Therapists recommend focusing on
what you can control first. Utilize techniques such as journaling, meditation,
or physical movement to channel and process post-work emotions. If addressing
the issue with your boss doesn't alleviate the symptoms, it might be time to
explore the underlying problems within your job.
Consider whether changing teams or bosses could help alleviate the symptoms. If not, it may be worth planning your exit. No job is worth compromising your mental health, and taking steps to prioritize your well-being is essential.
The Lazy Girl Job
This year has witnessed a pivotal
shift in how younger professionals approach and set their work expectations.
This generation is distinctively different from the "grateful to be
here" mindset, where enduring toxic bosses, long hours, and low salaries
was seen as a rite of passage. Instead, the era of "lazy girl jobs"
has emerged.
Popularized by content creator
Gabrielle Judge in a TikTok video in May, "lazy girl jobs" are
defined as positions that offer comfortable salaries, require minimal effort,
and allow for remote work.
As Judge explained to HuffPost, the
"lazy girl job" mentality revolves around cultivating freedom and
personal space by optimizing work efficiency, although it might not be
universally understood by everyone.
The widespread popularity of
"lazy girl jobs" (LGJs) on TikTok reflects a broader trend among
professionals redefining their perception of success. There's a growing desire
for clearer boundaries between work demands and personal life.
The allure of Bagel Fridays at the office is losing its luster; instead, professionals are prioritizing the ability to clock out early and return to their real lives, spending time with friends and families. This shift underscores a changing perspective on what constitutes a fulfilling and balanced professional life.
Body Doubling
If you thrive on having an
accountability partner, consider trying the work exercise known as "body
doubling."
This technique, often utilized by
professionals with ADHD, involves doing a task while having another person,
either on Zoom or in person, simultaneously working on their own task. The
shared presence helps individuals with ADHD stay anchored to the present and
maintain focus.
You may already be practicing body doubling without realizing it has a name. It could involve quietly working alongside a friend in a coffee shop or coordinating to finish the same task simultaneously. Regardless of the specifics, give this strategy a try if you struggle with concentration or completing tasks.
Voluntelling
If you find yourself
"volunteered" for an assignment you didn't sign up for, you've likely
been "voluntold." Coined and popularized by the U.S. military, this
term describes situations where individuals are assigned tasks without the opportunity
to decline, often accompanied by implicit pressure to accept.
In the workplace, these assignments
may not be explicitly framed as orders, but the underlying expectation is
clear. If you feel the need to push back, consider pointing out how taking on a
new task could potentially disrupt your existing responsibilities.
If you're a manager and find yourself in the position of assigning tasks, provide your employees with the opportunity to express their thoughts on the matter. After suggesting someone for a new opportunity, you can add language like "Let me know if this is of value to you," allowing them the space to assess the impact and relevance of the additional responsibility, as suggested by Gregory Tall, a workshop facilitator and manager coach.
Quiet Cutting
In 2022, "quiet quitting"
gained popularity as a term to describe employees who do the bare minimum at
their jobs while actively searching for better opportunities. However, this
summer saw the emergence of "quiet cutting," a phenomenon where
employees experience a "reassignment of duties," resulting in a loss
of the original role or job title for which they were hired, despite remaining
employed.
This trend has been particularly
noticeable in the tech industry, with more employees expressing dissatisfaction
with receiving such "reassignment" orders from their employers. While
it may present an opportunity to acquire new skills, it can also serve as an
ominous indicator of one's future within the company.
According to Peter Rahbar, an
employment attorney who has dealt with clients facing these reassignments, such
a shift signals the employee's expendability. Rahbar cautioned, "I don’t see it as ever being a good thing
for an employee. If it were to happen to me, the first thing I would do is
probably start my job search immediately for something that did suit my skills
where I would be a better fit."
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