Is the only good thing about your job the end of the day?
Sure, work, like life, is bound to have its ups and downs, but you know a job is toxic when you can’t find joy in absolutely anything there. While some of your co-workers may be great, stifling policies and managers that micromanage and constantly nit-pick can drag you down. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing though, according to Psychcentral, working in a negative environment can impact your personal life. It can damage your self-esteem, seriously impact your health and lead to depression.
Naturally, when dealing with a hostile environment, your first thought would probably lean towards finding ways out of the situation. However, when quitting isn’t an option (at least for right now) you still have to show up every day and deal with whatever tension you experience at the office.
So, if your work environment is a huge bummer, we have a few tips on how to make it more bearable:
Look for the positives, any positives, and focus on those: Maybe you like a co-worker, or maybe you’re grateful for a short commute or the healthcare benefits. Keep in mind that your job could just be a steppingstone to something more.
Stay true to who you are: Don’t compromise your character or integrity. Be confident in who you are and continue to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult.
Speak Up: If something needs to be discussed, make sure to do it immediately and professionally.
Control the things you can control: Control your attitude and work ethic. Control your actions – behaviours, moods and reactions.
Find an Escape: Shield yourself from the toxicity by taking regular breaks; take a quick walk around the building or do a 5-minute meditation. Wear headphones and listen to relaxing music.
Know the power of positivity: Make your workplace as pleasant as can be, given the circumstances. Personalise your office space; put up pictures of the people you love and post-its of positive quotes to remind you that your job is not everything and that you still have a happy life outside of it.
Focus on the Facts: Don’t take it personally, stay grounded in reality. Your boss may not be someone you’d ever hang out with, but that was never part of the job description.
Protect Yourself: Document everything, no seriously, everything. One of the signs of a toxic workplace is a policy of backstabbing. Ensure that all work-related instructions, projects and policies are documented.
Do something you love outside of work: When things at work get tough, find an outlet to make sure you’re living a fulfilling life outside of the office – it will make the drama you endure after punching in far more tolerable.
Find Allies: Hanging out with positive people at work can turn a negative office environment upside down. However, don’t participate in drama or get caught up in gossip.
Get Out: If the situation becomes unbearable it’s time to quit in a wise manner. Get your financial house in order and network like crazy.
Remember, your job doesn’t define who you are as a person, you’re so much more than that. After all, you’re working to live, not living to work.
Source: www.bustle .com, www.monster.com, www.recruiter.com, lifehacker.com, hbr.org, www.huffingtonpost.com, pambortonpartners.com, www.nbcnews.com, www.siliconrepublic.com, www.vivapartnership.com, www.forbes.com, www.dailyworth.com, work.chron.com, www.bustle.com, www.themuse.com, www.brightermonday.co.ke, moneyish.com
