{"id":6430,"date":"2021-04-22T11:44:48","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/?p=6430"},"modified":"2021-04-22T11:44:48","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:44:48","slug":"3-ways-the-office-is-damaging-your-mental-health-and-what-you-can-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/career\/3-ways-the-office-is-damaging-your-mental-health-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways the Office is Damaging Your Mental Health (And What You Can Do About It)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s common knowledge by now that the average adult spends approximately one-third of their entire life either at work or working. As you might expect, this means that <\/span>how <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>where <\/span><\/i>you work has a relatively enormous impact on your mental well-being. Consequently, it also means that a toxic workplace can cause significant damage to your psyche, both in the short-term and the long term.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first step is to <\/span>recognize <\/span><\/i>this, find the signs that something isn’t quite right with your work environment, and understand its impact on you. We’re going to go over three of the most common ways the office can damage your mental health and what you can do in each case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You’re Missing Sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n

Our bodies and brains both need sleep to function correctly. Even a single hour less of sleep each night can contribute to a wealth of long-term physical health issues and can wreak havoc on our psychological well-being. Sleep deprivation harms cognitive functions and general decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s a reason that, as noted by <\/span>Healthline,<\/span><\/i> fatal car crashes increase by 6% the week following Daylight Savings Time<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can You Do About This?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The easiest solution is to go to bed earlier and make sure your sleep hygiene is up to par. That means no electronics within one hour of going to sleep as well as minimizing light\/noise pollution in your bedroom as much as possible (or simply wearing a sleep mask). Unfortunately, for many of us, this is often easier said than done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another alternative might be to speak to your employer about telecommuting and flexible work hours. This can allow you to catch up on much-needed rest, leading to better overall productivity and well-being in the long run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s Way Too Much to Do<\/span><\/h2>\n

Are you feeling overwhelmed?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you constantly burning the midnight oil and working longer hours than you should? Is there little space in your life for anything that doesn’t involve work? Does it feel like every time you finish one task, seven more pop up in its place?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You need to course-correct immediately because otherwise, you’re on the path to eventual burnout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can You Do About This?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Learn to be actively lazy<\/span><\/a>. Set clear boundaries between your personal life and your professional life, and learn to recognize (and voice) when you’re taking on more than you can handle. Perhaps more importantly, learn to find fulfillment outside the office.<\/span><\/p>\n

You’re Getting Sick of Forced Motivation<\/span><\/h2>\n

Have you ever heard of toxic positivity? It\u2019s the mindset that you should <\/span>always look on the bright side no matter how bad things get. <\/span><\/i>The belief that even if you’re struggling with a serious mental illness like depression, you should face every day with an energetic smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The thing is, negative emotions are just as important as positive ones. If you’re angry, sad, or upset about something, <\/span>it is not healthy to swallow those feelings. <\/b>Unfortunately, many workplaces don’t seem to realize this and instead subject their employees to a barrage of mandatory team-building events, motivational meetings, and cheery corporate messaging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can You Do About This?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Talk to your employer and colleagues about promoting greater awareness and acceptance of mental health issues in the workplace. This could include company-supported therapy, self-assessment tools, seminars on mental illness, or understanding the need for mental health days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health<\/span><\/h2>\n

You spend a third of your life or more working. You need to make sure that you aren’t doing so in a way that harms your mind. Because now more than ever, your mental health matters.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s common knowledge by now that the average adult spends approximately one-third of their entire life either at work or working. As you might expect, this means that how and where you work has a relatively enormous impact on your mental well-being. 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