No matter what your job is, it’s an important aspect of your career to have a workplace that is healthy and filled with positive individuals.
Have you found yourself in an unhealthy work environment? If so, it can be a horrible situation to go through, however, there are ways you can deal with an unhealthy workplace.
Are You Working in an Unhealthy Work Environment?
Some of the most common signs of an unhealthy work environment are employee fatigue and illness, no enthusiasm, high employee turnover, narcissistic leadership, lack of communication, gossip, cliques, and negative rumors.
If going to work makes you feel drained and even physically sick, that's more than just normal work stress. To stay clear-headed and positive in an unhealthy work environment, use these 10 helpful tips.
1. Avoid Stooping to Their Level
It can be tempting to join in when a colleague starts badmouthing your self-obsessed boss, but it’s not positive to reward their negative behavior. Rather than engaging in toxic gossip, change the conversation to a new subject.
By doing this, you'll let your colleagues know that you won’t take part in their toxic behavior, and they’ll need to do it somewhere else. With luck, your actions will let your teammates know that their actions are not acceptable or appreciated.
2. Leave Work Stress at Work
If you’re working in an unhealthy environment, you need to learn how to create a work-life balance so that you don’t bring your negative experiences home with you.
It's okay to sometimes vent to your partner or loved ones about your work-related issues. This can make you feel better. However, if you’re constantly complaining and making your unhealthy workplace the heart of every conversation, this can be extremely unhealthy behavior.
Leave your work issues at work, and this can improve your mood and avoid making the problem worse.
Meditation has proven to be one of the best practices to reduce stress and anxiety, so why not try using meditation and relaxation apps to stay mentally healthy?
3. Find Positive Co-Workers
To create a more positive working environment, it can help to look for positive co-workers. It might seem like you’re surrounded by negative, toxic individuals, but chances are that some people are feeling the same as you are.
Find a colleague that looks like they're dealing with similar issues and determine how they’re feeling about the situation. Try to spend as much time as you can with your positive co-workers. It can be great to have someone to lean on and confide in when you’re surrounded by toxicity.
4. Discover a Way to Unwind
After a long, stressful day, you must find a way to unwind for the sake of your mental health. Instead of spending all of your time outside of work hanging onto the negative, frustrating events that happened during the workday, rather find something to do that’ll help you unwind.
Here are some great ways to relax:
Do Some Yoga
Yoga is a soothing, spiritual way to relax after a tough day at work. Plus, there’s a wide range of free courses and apps for yoga that you can download and use.
Read a Book
Grab your favorite paperback book or read on your Kindle. Can’t find the book you’re looking for? Use these websites to find great Kindle books.
Journal Your Thoughts
Reduce stress and release your negative thoughts and feelings into your journal after a long day. There are a variety of amazing online journals you can use, like Penzu and Journey.
5. Document Everything You Do
If your unhealthy work environment ever becomes too unbearable, you may need to file a complaint, and to do that you need evidence. Be sure to keep all the information that can back your claims, such as emails, comments in meetings, phone call conversations, and personal interactions.
Hopefully, it doesn't come down to filing a complaint as it can get messy, however, it’s always best to document everything just in case.
6. Stay Positive
You work in an unhealthy workplace, which means you’re constantly surrounded by pessimism, and this can have a negative effect on you. Even though your work environment may get you down, you need to focus on staying positive to avoid damaging your wellbeing.
Rather than concentrating on the negativity in your work environment, try and see the good in the fact that you enjoy the work that you do.
7. Take a Break
Now and again, it’s important that you take some time to take a break, especially if you’re working in an unhealthy workplace. Don't listen to toxic co-workers who say that you're being lazy by taking a break. Your brain needs time to rest, even if it’s just for 5 minutes.
Step outside for a walk and get some fresh air, or do some quick meditation. Taking a break and getting a little space to yourself can enhance your overall mood and productivity.
8. Create Lists
Oftentimes, creating lists can keep you from thinking about your negative work environment and all the stress that comes with it. Write down a list of all the tasks you need to do for the day. By doing this, it’ll be a lot easier to stay on schedule and get the work done.
Creating lists also help you to stay focused on the tasks at hand, keeping you going throughout the workday, and distracting you from the toxic work environment surrounding you.
9. Understand That Nothing Is Permanent
Does it feel like there’s absolutely nothing you can do to avoid the stress and anxiety of your unhealthy workplace? Well, don’t lose hope. Even if you hate going to work, you feel mentally and physically ill, and your faith in humanity is dwindling, you need to know that this situation is not permanent.
Always remember that the situation that you’re in is not going to last forever. All you have to do is find the courage to move on.
10. Leave Your Job
In the end, the best way to deal with an unhealthy working environment is to leave! Too many people think it’s easier to stick it out, even when they know their workplace is becoming too toxic to deal with.
Don’t be scared to find a better working situation that’ll inspire you and make you a more positive person.
Stay Sane in an Unhealthy Work Environment
Even if your work environment is healthy, it comes with a lot of stress, so there’s nothing worse than going to a terrible, toxic workplace on a daily basis.
No one should have to put up with an unhealthy work environment, but luckily there are a few tips that can help you cope before you find better circumstances.