Do the “Sunday Scaries” sound all too familiar?

When you wake up, are you preparing yourself for another beating of microaggressions, micromanagement, discrimination, or bullying from your co-workers or boss?

With World Mental Health Day approaching on October 10, workplaces everywhere are looking for ideas and ways to celebrate the occasion. From engaging guest speakers to thematic learning and development training or mindfulness sessions, mental health is at the heart of our conversations.

With all the talk around mental health, you need to take a step back and re-evaluate where you are in your career. Be honest with yourself and consider whether your job is negatively impacting your mental health and well-being. And if so, in what way?

Your job could be harming your well-being without you even being aware of it.

Poor mental health signals in the workplace manifest themselves in different ways for different people. Some people take it with a smile and you would never know that it deeply affects them, while others express it more loudly.

Additionally, not everyone recognizes the signs of a toxic workplace that leads to poor mental health, as certain behaviors, such as: B. passive aggressiveness, are often not easy to recognize; Everyone has become accustomed to them and therefore they are deemed “normal” or acceptable, which further perpetuates a toxic work environment.

If you’re wondering whether your job is ruining your well-being and affecting your mental health, here are some telltale signs to look out for:

1. Overwhelming workload

Your workload should challenge and stretch you so that you can step out of your comfort zone. However, it should never be such that it creeps into your personal space and alters your work-life balance. A workload that goes beyond the agreed working hours can lead to fatigue and burnout. Richard Mattingley, a clinical psychologist who has worked with organizations and leadership teams, has seen first-hand the negative impact that some professional factors, such as an overwhelming workload, can have. One of his clients, he recalls, was working 70 hours a week and was exhausted. This led to chronic stress and physical health problems.

2. Overwhelming workload

Perhaps equally damaging is feeling like you lack purpose, clear goals, and job satisfaction because your job offers you nothing meaningful or rewarding. If your workload is too light and you are unable to make the most of your free time to work on your personal professional growth and development, there is a high chance that you will become depressed or experience a reduced quality of life.

3. Feeling undervalued

“Feeling undervalued also damages motivation and self-confidence,” Mattingley continues. Let’s say your employer doesn’t offer raises or promotions for years, but gives the promotion or raise to someone else (especially if you are fully aware that this action is discriminatory). In this case, it will lead to a sharp decline in your motivation and productivity.

4. Relationships are affected

If your mental health deteriorates due to circumstances or the work environment, you may find it difficult to develop healthy relationships with friends and family. Toxic work relationships can impact how you view and interact with your loved ones.

“If you notice that work stress is affecting your relationships – causing you to lash out at loved ones or withdraw from social activities – that’s a telltale sign,” advises Sarah Jefferies, a mental health first aid trainer. “You may feel even more isolated, and this disconnection can spiral if nothing is done about it.”

5. Physical symptoms

If you are experiencing insomnia, headaches, nerve pain, fatigue, complete exhaustion, migraines, and even nausea, you should see your doctor and discuss what you may be experiencing at work, whether explicitly related to your work or directly related to it Your employer’s work environment. These symptoms can sometimes indicate that work-related anxiety has affected your well-being.

How to protect your mental health at work

If you find that your mental health is being affected by work-related negative stress, here are some things you can do about it:

1. Change your career if it is more job-related than employer-related.
2. Leave your current employer or industry if it is more employer-related than job-related.
3. Set healthy boundaries around your work hours, lunch breaks, quality time for yourself or family, etc.
4. Engage in stress-relieving activities such as exercise, walking, meditating, spending time in nature, or pursuing a hobby.
5. Participate in employee assistance programs to support your mental health wherever possible.
6. Talk to someone – a trusted friend, family member or colleague.
7. Get professional advice and support to manage your mental wellbeing.

Your mental health is important. Whatever career decision you make, always ensure that your physical and emotional well-being comes first.