Working hard at a meaningful career can be a wonderful and healthy thing. However, sometimes the jobs that we do can become toxic to our wellbeing. In fact, they can even begin to threaten our health! The good news is that there are signs to look out for that indicate things are out of balance in this area. A topic you can find out more about below.
Your career is putting your physical health in danger.
One way that you can tell things in your career has got out of balance is that your physical health is being put in danger. In fact, if your job is asking you to risk your health recklessly or causing you bodily injury, it is very likely to be toxic. The same goes for if it’s the underlying cause of a chronic condition like depression, anxiety, or hypertension.
Of course, the best way to deal with this situation is to find another job ASAP. Although, bringing these issues to the attention of management or even a safety authority is a good idea as well.
Additionally, finding another role may be difficult if you are dealing with an injury from your previous one. However, a workers compensation attorney may be able to assist you here. The reason being that they can argue your case for loss of earnings and medical bills. Something that can result in compensation that will allow you to keep up with your financial responsibilities even if you cannot keep working.
Your career is putting your mental health in danger.
Another indication that your career could be toxic is if your mental health is being damaged by it. In fact, there are some very satisfying and necessary careers where this can happen. With those in roles such as paramedics often finding themselves suffering from PTSD as a result of their work.
Of course, each individual situation is different, and only you can decide whether the environment in which you work is genuinely toxic or not. Although, if it is, reaching out for help from your manager, the business in general, and psychological professionals can help to ease the burden.
Additionally, going for another role, and taking better care of yourself can help to make a positive impact in this area as well.
You judge your happiness and success on your career only.
Finally, it may be that your career has turned toxic if it’s the only criterion by which you judge your life. After all, while our jobs are important, they can provide us with a great sense of achievement, other facets of our lives matter as well.
These include things like family, friends, hobbies, spiritual beliefs, and a range of other aspects too. In fact, if your happiness and sense of self-worth only comes from your career, you are setting up to be a toxic situation indeed. With that in mind, it is essential that you make an effort to introduce some other things into your life to ensure a healthy balance.
