Quiet renunciation: Living to the bare minimum
This situation, which we might also call "silent abandonment," means that people don't completely abandon their responsibilities in their lives, but rather minimize their interest and energy in them. Data reveals the seriousness of this situation: This situation, which is widespread worldwide, is also evident in our country: As of 2024, the employee engagement rate in Türkiye was announced as only 14 percent, while 61 percent of employees were "disengaged," and 25 percent were "completely disengaged."
Quiet abandonment, in essence, is the adoption of the "doing only what is necessary" mentality in all aspects of life. This doesn't just mean avoiding overtime at work; it also means being content with just passing grades as a student, doing only basic chores at home, and engaging in minimal social interaction. People don't abandon their roles entirely, but they quietly relinquish their motivation for them. Research in academia shows a negative, moderate, and significant correlation between undergraduate students' perceptions of academic self-discipline and their levels of this quiet abandonment. Students now study solely for passing grades, don't participate in extracurricular activities, and contribute minimally to group work. This situation isn't limited to young people. Studies among housewives reveal that women's gender perceptions are directly related to their levels of burnout and self-alienation. The constant pursuit of perfection expected from traditional roles pushes many women into this quiet abandonment.
There are multifaceted reasons behind the widespread adoption of silent abandonment in Türkiye. First, economic uncertainty is a significant factor. According to 2024 data, the rate of individuals who declared themselves happy dropped to 49.6%, while the high cost of living is seen as the most significant problem at 29.2%. Faced with economic hardship, people begin to quietly abandon many areas of their lives, believing that extra effort doesn't benefit them. Societal pressure also fuels this situation. In Türkiye, the traditional expectation of being the "best" in every field and the necessity of performing multiple roles pushes many people toward burnout. The pressure, especially on women, to perfectly fulfill the roles expected of mothers, wives, employees, and homemakers, ultimately leads to a silent abandonment of these roles. The impact of the digital age is also undeniable. The gap between the "perfect" lives we see on social media and our own realities is leading many to demotivation. The pandemic, however, accelerated this process as people reevaluated their priorities and grasped the importance of work-life balance. People now prefer to "give up some things" rather than "try to do everything."
Quiet abandonment is actually used as a method of protecting against burnout. To avoid disappointment, the individual lowers their expectations and chooses the security of "not failing" with minimal effort. This is an illusion of control, designed to maintain the "I can do it if I want" mentality by doing nothing perfectly, rather than trying to do everything perfectly and failing. The core of the problems faced by people experiencing burnout lies in their attempts to perfectly meet the needs and desires of others while ignoring their own. Quiet abandonment develops as a defense mechanism against this situation. People constantly withdraw the energy they feel they must give, protecting themselves.
The fundamental question of Generation Z is, "Why should I work so hard?" Seeing their families working hard but failing to raise their standards of living, the younger generation is deciding not to repeat the same mistakes and abandoning high-performance expectations. Middle-aged individuals who have demonstrated high performance for years but haven't seen the rewards they expected are also lowering their energy levels and quietly withdrawing from certain responsibilities. A similar "good enough" mentality prevails in every group. Abandoning perfectionism, moving away from constant competition, and abandoning the quest for everyone's satisfaction are the key drivers of this process. THE PROBLEM OF HEALTHY BALANCE The solution to this situation is neither complete acceptance and passivity, nor complete rejection and burnout. Developing the ability to make choices and consciously choosing where to invest our energy is crucial. Setting realistic goals, accepting that we don't have to be perfect, developing the ability to set boundaries, and seeking support are key. At the societal level, expectations management, acceptance of diversity, understanding that not everyone has to progress at the same pace, and embracing process-oriented approaches are also necessary. Systematically, an education system that supports cooperation rather than competition, a work culture with sustainable performance expectations, and social policies that support the individual are essential.
Quiet resignation may be an unconscious resistance to the excessive burdens of modern life. True happiness comes neither from constant peak performance nor from complete passivity. It lies in balance, finding your own rhythm, and making conscious choices in different areas of your life. Perhaps quiet resignation reminds us that being "enough" is a value, offering a natural balancing mechanism against the fast-paced flow of modern life. The solution to giving up through exhaustion can also be seen as developing the ability to recognize and protect our own limits. The important thing is to consciously choose which areas to give up and manage this choice in a way that enhances our quality of life.
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