International Stress Awareness Day: Is Your Job Making You Sick?
November 2, 2022
We've all experienced to one degree or another: stress on the job. Yep, for most of us, stress literally is part of the job. But ideally, it's a gentle up and down instead of wave after crushing wave. While stress can be good sometimes, we cannot ignore the fact that we are faced with circumstances that cause bad stress. When your health begins to suffer or relationships are negatively impacted, it's important that you ask yourself: is your job making you sick? By assessing how you are feeling toward your work, you will be able to conclude if the stress you are going through is indeed unhealthy. The sooner you know, the better so that you can take the steps necessary to address the stress issues at hand.
What is job stress?
First off, we have to identify what job stress is. Job stress refers to the negative effects on an individual’s emotional and physical wellbeing. This happens when demands from work are not matched with the resources of an employee. An employee puts themselves at risk for injuries and ill health by continuing to work in unsafe conditions or in a toxic environment. Moreover, the more a person is affected by job stress, the more prone they are to make mistakes and undermining important personal relationships. Prolonged work stress will have a negative impact on relationships with loved ones, romantic partners, and work performance.
What's the difference between being stressed and challenged?
Challenges encountered at work must bring out two things in employees: motivation and the drive to learn new things. When faced with challenges at work, employees will feel energized on both a physical and psychological level. Aside from that, when a challenging task has been overcome, an employee should feel satisfied and positive about the goal they accomplished. Challenges are essential in a work setting because they encourage workers to be more productive at work. It is safe to say that a challenge is another term for good stress. If you are not feeling any of these positive effects after completing a project, then that could be a clear indication that your job is making you sick.
How can you tell if you have job stress?
If you always dread going to work, have no motivation, are not productive, and are burned out, then you likely suffer from overwhelming work stress. Of course, there are other signs that can help you tell if your job is making you sick. Here are some prime examples:
You no longer gain satisfaction with the work you produce
At times that you should be resting, you spend them by grinding work hours
You notice your job performance is heading downhill
Health problems start to occur gradually
What are the next steps after finding out you are suffering from job stress?
First, you have to know and set your limits. Creating boundaries can be a challenge at work, but if the situation is beginning to impact your well-being, it's crucial to make yourself say "no." Next, try and find a support group. Odds are you won't have to look far to find other stressed out folks. Talking a group of people who struggle with the same issues will help you cope since they can relate and understand what you are going through. Think of it as talk therapy. As much as possible, try not to multitask, as this makes your brain feel overwhelmed. While it is true that some people can manage several tasks at once, this does not necessarily apply to everyone. If you find yourself being pulled in multiple directions, take a deep breath and tackle one task at a time. Furthermore, to prevent your job from making you sick, you must take breaks. This gives you time to sit back, pause, and relax, even for just a moment. Work breaks are important because they relieve several problems like eye strain, fatigue, stress, and muscle tension.
Should you leave your job?
This is a deeply personal decision, but it's a question worth asking if you cannot create a work-life balance that allows you to recharge, regroup, and relax. If asking for a transfer to a different department or supervisor is an option, consider doing so. Ultimately, if things are getting too suffocating at work and the job is making you sick, it's ok to start looking for a different job to protect your health.
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