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Most people can probably come up with about a million things they would rather be doing on any given day other than going to work. Even those of us who love what we do for a living need to take a personal day from time to time to rest, recharge, and give our minds a break. But, what if coming back to work makes you feel bad in ways you can’t explain?
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According to the Depression Center at the University of Michigan, anywhere from 2% to 4% of US workers suffer from depression, and up to 50% of those workers experience short-term disability. Depression costs employers over $44 billion annually in lost productivity. About 81% of that is due to a worker’s poorer on-the-job performance due to their symptoms.
Because of these very real effects, it’s important to both you and your boss to find out whether your job is the cause of your depression or other mental health issues.
The following are some signs that your job is affecting your mental health.
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You can’t get out of bed in the morning
Everyone has the occasional day when they feel too tired or sick to muster the energy to get out of bed for work. But if you are having these kinds of days more and more frequently, it could be your body’s stress response to a difficult work environment.
You feel obligated to respond to work emails and texts 24/7
Many companies expect employees to respond to emails after work and on the weekends. However, according to Business News Daily, a study presented at the 2016 annual meeting of the Academy of Management found that "employers damage their employee's well-being and work-life balance and weaken their job performance when they create expectations that work-related emails should be monitored and responded to during non-work hours."
Whether you work for a company or are self-employed, it is important to have designated non-working hours to enjoy life apart from work.
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You don’t take breaks during the workday
When you have a ton of paperwork piled on your desk or have several back-to-back meetings scheduled, you may not get a chance to take a break during your workday. But working through your breaks is not good for your mental health.
In a 2015 study, Emily Hunter, PhD, and Cindy Wu, PhD, associate professors of management at the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business, found that not only taking breaks, but taking "better breaks" can lead to better health and increased job satisfaction among employees. Better breaks typically mean taking more frequent short breaks starting mid-morning rather than one or two long breaks.
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You don’t socialize with coworkers
In an interview with Business Insider, Amy Morin, author of "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," said that if your job is mentally draining, you might start to turn down social opportunities with co-workers. This can be something as simple as choosing to sit at your desk for lunch rather than eating with co-workers in the lounge or cafeteria. Being too exhausted to talk to people, especially those who share your same work environment, could be a sign that your job is taking a toll on your mental health.
If your company is experiencing layoffs, don’t wait to start cleaning up your resume. You may also consider supplementing your existing salary with freelance work. Having a little nest egg can make a job transition much easier and ease your stress.
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You feel guilty going to work
Some companies have questionable moral and ethical practices. Whether they harm the environment, create dangerous products or maintain an unsafe workplace for all employees, you may find that your personal belief system is compromised at work. Eventually, this will take a toll on your mental health.
Author and business advice columnist for Fortune, Anne Fisher, suggests that if you’re considering parting ways with your company due to ethical concerns, you are doing the right thing. She interviewed Janice Ellig, co-CEO of the Manhattan-based executive search firm Chadick Ellig who noted that in most cases, a company’s unethical behavior will come to light.
Save your future career and current mental health by seeking new opportunities.
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