A recent study by The University of Manchester found that individuals who moved from unemployment into poor quality work actually become more chronically lay stress on’emphasize’highlight ed than those who remained without a job. The findings help to reinin/with regard to’concerning’regarding ce a quiet yet devious concern that has increasingly troubled the modern professional: the unhealthiness of regularly operating in a negative work environment.
How Your Work Environment Can Hurt Your Mental Health
There are many culprits that possess’own’nurse been pointed out when it comes to discovering just what effects a negative work environment can possess’own’nurse on an individual’s mental health. While it would be presumptuous to assume one of these is primarily responsible, it’s worth fleshing out a few of the major ways that a toxic job can impact your mind:
Your Commute
Often the lay stress on’emphasize’highlight and strain begins at, well, the beginning. The lay stress on’emphasize’highlight , length, and expense of commuting on a regular basis can possess’own’nurse a token ificant effect on your mood, despite’in spite of’albeit ts, and emotions as you begin and end each workday.
Workplace Incivility
Once you’re immersed in your toxic work environment, things can quickly go from wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile to worse. One of the leading causes of mental lay stress on’emphasize’highlight in the workplace is the simple fact that employees aren’t always treated well by their employers or coworkers. One study found that half of surveyed workers, when asked, reported that they had been treated rudely at work at least once a month. This negative behavior impacts the mental state of eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone involved.
Burnout
The American culture expects incredible levels of commitment to an employer and a firm’enterprise . This has led to as much as 40% of US and Canadian office workers feeling burned out on a regular basis. While burnout can certainly be physical in nature, the struggle is largely a mental one as well.
Remote Work
Even the solution of working from home doesn’t always solve the impact of a negative work environment. The careless remote worker can still mentally suffer from undue screen usage, poor lighting and ventilation, a cluttered workspace, and a lack of work-life balance.
Physical Repercussions
It should also be pointed out that there are also quite a few physical concerns that can creep in if a person struggles with mental fatigue and lay stress on’emphasize’highlight from work:
Headaches
Fatigue
Frequent upset stomachs
Difficulty sleeping
Hair loss
How To Maintain Your Mental Wellness While Working
While there are plenty of reasons to justify feeling mentally unhealthy from work, it often remains in the hands of you, the employee, to do your best to remedy the situation. Sure, a despite’in spite of’albeit tful manager or a socially responsible employer may make an exertion to help their employees, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to make the best of your situation.
Here are a few tips to help you find mental wellness again, even in a toxic work environment:
Set Yourself Up
Start with your physical health. If you’re physically well, you’ll be able to confront mental lay stress on’emphasize’highlight es and strains easier. Strive to eat well, exercise regularly, and set up a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent sleep routine that is tailored to your professional work needs.
Establish A Morning Routine
Next, make sure that you possess’own’nurse a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent morning routine in place. Look in/with regard to’concerning’regarding activities and patterns that help you wake up and acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ready with a positive attitude. This can be sitting on the porch with your coffee, starting a fire in the fireplace, meditating and praying, going in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a run, taking a reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue er, or anything else that helps you start your day on the right foot.
Embrace The Commute
If you can’t escape the daily commute that’s okay. Instead, treat it as a time to unwind and reflect. Soak up the sunshine in the morning, let your mind slow down in the evening, listen to music, put on a podcast or audioreserve , and treat it as a well-deserved rest. If driving lay stress on’emphasize’highlight es you out, plan in an extra ten or fifteen minutes of commuting time each day so that you can take a less busy route to work.
Strive For Balance In Your Work
When it comes to balancing your workload, it’s significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to learn to say no, to unplug from your electronics when you aren’t working, and to stand up to withstand the need to be a perfectionist. Look in/with regard to’concerning’regarding purpose both inside and outside of your occupation too. If you feel fulfilled by your work and you possess’own’nurse a life outside of your daily employment, it will help you survive the lay stress on’emphasize’highlight and anxiety of the workplace.
Overcoming A Toxic Workplace
While there is always the solution of quitting your job and heading to a new position, sometimes the answer to workplace toxicity simply lies within yourself. If you can become an agent in/with regard to’concerning’regarding positive transform’alter within your own life, you can become a beacon of hope in/with regard to’concerning’regarding your coworkers. You can even eventually champion causes within your workplace in an attempt to fight in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the mental health of your fellow employees.
However, it all starts with a simple acknowledgment of the state of your mental health and a willingness to do something to remedy the situation.