Everybody has bad days at work. But if you dread waking up every Monday through Friday, or you regularly find yourself sitting at your desk on the verge of tears, you probably have a more serious problem on your hands.
Amy Morin, author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” says a hostile work environment can cause people to be miserable and may, in some rare cases, even be linked with depression. The problem is, once you fall into that trap, it can be difficult to get out.
“Feeling down about your job can set you up for a self-perpetuating cycle by taking a negative toll on the way you think and the way you behave,” she explains. “The more you experience negative thoughts and unproductive behavior, the worse you’ll feel.”
Here are 11 signs your job is ruining your life:
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1. You can’t stop thinking about your job.
Your weekday evenings and weekends should be about clearing your mind and relaxing.
So if you come home and can’t stop replaying a meeting that went wrong in your head or thinking about all the reasons why you don’t want to wake up for work tomorrow, that can seriously impede on the quality of your home life, Morin says.
Rumination has indeed been linked to depression, and Morrin says it can prevent some people from enjoying the little time they have away from an unhealthy work environment.
2. You complain about work — a lot.
If you’re truly unhappy and unfulfilled with your job, you may start to spend a lot of time and energy explaining to friends, family, and anyone who will listen just how bad your job is at the moment.
This release might feel good in the moment, but Morrin says it’s not healthy because it “robs you of mental strength.” This, in turn, can increase your risk of distress.
3. Social events with coworkers start to seem draining rather than fun.
Everyone needs “me” time, but you should still enjoy being social.
If your job is sucking the life out of you, Morin says you might start to turn down any opportunity to socialize because talking with other people sounds too exhausting.
It can be as simple as eating lunch at your desk instead of the break room or rushing home after work to avoid happy hour.
