They say work makes you forget your pain and I can vouch for it to be true. When I was younger and going through a major heartbreak, it was my work that kept me going. I loved everything about my job. The hours I spent writing, going for wake-me-up coffee breaks, and just shining kept me happy. Work is not always going to be fun but you should still feel a sense of accomplishment when you tick items off your to-do list.
We spend a huge chunk of our waking hours hustling for building a future, pursuing our passion, and investing in our careers. You wake up, hit pause on the web series you’ve been binge-watching to make things happen on the job front. You are learning, and you are growing. Sometimes, you may need an XL coffee to make it through the day, but nevertheless, you feel driven to give your best, most days at least.
Isn’t this how it’s supposed to feel? I mean, if you are going to spend such a huge part of your life doing something, it should bring you joy. However, sometimes, due to a variety of reasons, you can feel your job has given you a premium subscription to anxiety prime.
Before you know it, your anxiety starts sneaking into other aspects of your life. Here are five signs your work is giving you major stress.
When you’re not working, you’re ranting about your job
You feel you are in this endless loop that goes around your work. You wake up, sulk and get through the day. You get done and then go on to rant about how much everything is annoying. If it’s not obvious yet, you hate your job and it’s making you anxious.
You feel drained
No matter how many weekend getaways you go for, how many hours of sleep you get, or how many cups of coffee you have—a perennial feeling of tiredness follows you. Even when you haven’t worked much all day, you feel drained.
You dread Mondays
Honestly, if you love your job, you will look forward to Mondays. I mean, not to waking up early but to doing something productive in the field of your interest. But all that anxiety you experience throughout the week makes you feel like the weekends should go on forever.
You feel like there’s noise in your head that you can’t turn off
When your work makes you anxious, you feel like there’s a white noise in your head that just doesn’t seem to get turned off. You want to sleep, but your mind feels occupied. Even when you are not consciously thinking (or overthinking) about work, you feel your heart is sinking.
You have been experiencing physical symptoms
Mental well-being is connected to our physical health. When you’ve been experiencing anxiety, you feel fatigued, you get headaches, and you have this sinking feeling in your heart. You will also feel cold and be a little shaky, and edgy.
How to deal with work anxiety
· Consider changing your job. If you can, save enough money to help you sustain yourself if you decide to leave without finding another offer.
· Let your boss know you are struggling and with what
· Practise self-care and healing techniques. Try breathing techniques, healing sounds, and anything that makes you feel better.
· Take a break from ranting excessively. It becomes a habit and before you know it, you are filling yourself with more negativity than you can handle.
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