Did you know that 52% of employees believe they work in a toxic work environment? (White, 2019). You might be thinking that a toxic work environment is solely a workplace filled with drama, but it is so much more than that, and toxic work environments can be dangerous to your mental health.
Thanks to the pandemic, I have been working from home since March. I miss my coworker, and while we talk on the phone or text Monday through Friday, it is not the same. Things seemed to go downhill once our teammate was let go during the height of it. Since then, we have been stressed out, overworked, feeling unappreciated, and, most importantly, left to fight the sharks on our own. While both of us know that our work life will never be the same, neither one of us could have imagined the events that would continue to unfold as the months passed.
I am a huge stickler on one not being able to heal in the same environment that made you sick so let us dive into the traits of a toxic work environment:
Unhealthy communication patterns can look like:
So now that we know what a toxic work environment looks like, what can you do to preserve your mental health?
Do not forget to practice self-care. There are hidden self-care moments that we take part in daily such as practicing personal hygiene, having your morning coffee, structuring your day, or spending time with pets. But when dealing with a toxic work environment, you need to practice self-care that respects your boundaries. Schedule your “me time,” say “no” to things that do not serve you well, allowing yourself to take time off, and as previously stated, establishing your availability, and communicating it to others.
Remember also to take your mandatory breaks! Just because we are working from home does not mean that you are not allowed to take your two fifteen-minute breaks and your lunch break. You need these breaks to re-center yourself, let your brain to decompress, and allow yourself the opportunity to come back into your work with a fresh mind.
What if you are already doing these things, and your mental health is still suffering? Well, one could easily say, “get the heck out of dodge,” but it is essential to remember not to make any hasty decisions.
If you do choose to go back out on the job hunt, make sure whatever job offers you receive that you outweigh the pros and cons. The job offer you accept should be one that helps propel you further in your career, not one that is just a sidestep to get out of a miserable situation as you may find yourself walking into yet another toxic work environment. Find out about the company goals, work culture, how the manager deals with conflict, and communication practices. Please take all the things that bother you currently and use them as a tool to interview your interviewer!
Whatever path you decide to take, remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you find yourself losing sleep because of your job or becoming more irritable both on and off the clock, make the conscious effort to implement your self-care routines that respect your boundaries. While you might not be able to say “no” to a task at work, you can restructure your schedule to allow time to meet your deadlines while making sure to schedule your much-needed breaks as well.
Take care of yourself.
Until next time, Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease <3
References:
White, P. (2019). 5 signs of a toxic workplace. Retrieved from: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/the-5-signs-of-a-toxic-workplace
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BITD is a blog designed to educate on mental illness and maintain mental wellness through personal experiences.
September 5th, 2020 at 12:02
[…] we were doing the damn thing. The picture in the center is from July, a few days after I wrote Stressed Out: Toxic Work Environments and Mental Health. You may want to defer to that post for a minute; if you have not read it, it will help to bring […]