Downshifting

What is Downshifting?

Downshifting in context with employees of any organization refers to the state of employees where they choose to lower their responsibilities and workload for a better state of mind and quality of life. The motive is to improve one's personal life and family relationships by reducing stress and interruption of work-life.

Understand it better with the help of an example:

• A- worked as a deputy manager in an MNC.
• As a deputy manager, A managed his work-life balance well.
• After the performance evaluation, the superiors promoted A by assigning him the manager's role.
• A- started performing the duties of the manager.
• After 3 months as a manager, A was mentally stressed and even got health complications due to the workload.
• A- decided to resign from the manager's role and continue only as a deputy manager in order to balance work-life, health, and personal life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of downshifting?

Downshifting is a trend of people choosing to lower their working hours to simplify their lives. Downshifting is beneficial for the employee's professional and personal lives. You can follow interests other than your professional work and spend more time with your family and friends by downshifting.

What are the risks of downshifting?

There are many potential benefits of downshifting, but there are some risks too. While downshifting, there might be financial instability for an employee due to that it might not be enough to cover your expenses. Downshifting might lead to social isolation in case of an improper support system of an employee.

What are the essential things to consider while downshifting?

While downshifting you should consider the following things;

• Clarify the outcome you want from downshifting
• Discuss your ideas with your close ones
• Identify your goals
• Get prepared mentally
• Calculate the amount you need to survive