Mental health and wellbeing are essential in the workplace. Not only do they enable employees to flourish, but they also have a positive impact on their productivity and drive innovation. However, statistics show that many employees have less than favourable experiences at work, with pressure from managers and colleagues, long hours and little incentive to improve work conditions all contributing to a stressful working environment for many employees. Your job has a huge impact on your life. It can be a source of joy or misery; it can inspire you to achieve more or leave you feeling unfulfilled; it can bring out the best in you or the worst; it can add meaning to your life or leave you feeling empty. Regardless of how much you love your job, there’s no denying that it has an effect on who you are as a person – both mentally and physically. If you’re currently employed or looking for work, here are some signs that your job is affecting your mental and physical health in a negative way:
You feel constantly anxious or stressed at work.
Stress is a feeling that is both mental and physical in nature. It’s extremely common in the workplace, with almost one in three employees reporting having experienced high levels of stress in their roles. While short-term stress can be beneficial, helping you meet deadlines and achieve targets, high levels of stress and stress-related illness are extremely damaging to both your mental and physical health. If you feel constantly stressed or anxious at work, and this feeling doesn’t go away when you leave the office, it could be time to re-evaluate your situation and look for a new job.
Your Mental Health is Deteriorating
As well as being a major cause of stress and anxiety, work can also have negative consequences on your mental health in other ways. Working in a job that doesn’t challenge you, or working in an environment that doesn’t support your personal values can lead to feelings of apathy, while long hours and a busy work schedule can also lead to feelings of burnout. If you feel like your job is having a negative impact on your mental health, it’s important that you take action. Don’t try to push through it – talk to your manager, seek out therapy, or read self-help books. Mental health issues can be extremely serious, and they can have lifelong consequences if they’re not treated. If you find yourself struggling with depression, anxiety, or any other mental health issues, work is not a healthy environment for you.
You Experience Physical Aches and Pains
Working in jobs where you’re standing all day, lifting heavy weights, or moving your body for long periods of time can lead to physical pain, injury, and long-term damage to muscles and joints. If you’re currently employed in a physically demanding job, or you’ve worked in such a job in the past, it’s likely that your work has had a negative impact on your physical health. We’re all affected by the work we do, but some jobs pose more risk to our health than others. If you need to sit behind a desk all day, but your job requires you to stand or move around, your health may be at risk.
You’re Tired and Have No Energy
If you’re tired all the time, but you’ve ruled out medical conditions and don’t know what’s causing your exhaustion, your job could be the culprit. Some jobs, such as nursing, paramedic work, and flight attendant jobs, are notorious for being extremely tiring – and it’s not uncommon for workers in these fields to succumb to burnout. While it’s possible to find a more relaxed position, if your job is extremely demanding, it may be time to move on or take a sabbatical. You’re not alone: 85 percent of American employees report being tired at work.
You Lack Self-Confidence and Feelings of Worthlessness
If you’re stuck in a job you don’t enjoy, or if you’re working for money and not for personal fulfillment, it’s likely that your job is having a negative impact on your self-worth. If you’re feeling trapped in a job that you know you don’t want to do, it’s only going to get worse. If your job is negatively affecting your self-confidence and feelings of self-worth, it’s vital that you try to change things as quickly as possible. It’s better to leave a job that you don’t like than to stay and let it destroy your self-esteem.
Bottom line: It’s time for a change!
Before you lose your mind, it’s time to consider changing jobs. While it may seem like a drastic move, and you may be worried about having to find a new job and starting over, the benefits outweigh the negatives. New jobs can be challenging, but they can also be exciting and refreshing, giving you new opportunities and new ways of looking at your life. If you’re currently suffering at work, it’s time to change the situation before it takes over your life.