Maintaining mental health is as or perhaps more important than maintaining physical health. There are various reasons why we suffer from mental problems; These can arise at any time and unexpectedly.
Mental health has been in the headlines recently, especially due to an increase in the number of Americans committing suicide. This has led to a more in-depth investigation into the possible causes that are making some people so miserable.
The results show that there are social and economic factors that contribute to the increasing levels of depression, with work being a fundamental aspect to consider. After all, we spend about a third of our best years as adults at work, which is why the office plays an important role in our mental health.
Find out what is the main cause of depression at work and how to fix it.
Office work as a source of depression
Work is a factor of special interest that can contribute negatively to mental health, but: what factors make professional life depressing?
Recent research has shown that the leading cause of depression at work is loneliness . Data shows that Americans feel more alone as they become more disconnected from traditional, direct, and personal social ties, ceasing to engage in group activities such as attending church, a party, or having a visually connected conversation during all lunch.
Scientist Clay Routledge recently argued in the New York Times that a deeper understanding is required about how changes in American society – greater detachment and a weaker sense of belonging – are increasing the risk of existential crisis .
Many modern work environments contribute to this sense of disconnection, such as telecommuting and some low-cost hiring arrangements: they have created flexibility, but reduce opportunities for interpersonal interactions. Even working in an office doesn’t guarantee a meaningful connection. People who attend an office usually look at the computer or attend task-oriented meetings where opportunities to connect on a human level are rare.
There is another factor that contributes negatively in the workplace and is the feeling of control, which can push employees towards anxiety and depression. This way of exercising leadership is harmful to the individual himself and to the organization.
5 tips to avoid depression at work
If you want to avoid getting depressed at your work , put the word “mundane” back into all aspects of your work life, such as their hours, location, clothing, desk decoration or order of tasks, and you will instantly make work be more satisfying, even if nothing else changes in the environment. In addition, you can follow these tips, very easy to start:
1. Connect with your colleagues
Connect with your co-workers. Consider them part of your life and invest time in them.
2. Be active
- Riding a bicycle, participating in sports, gardening, dancing… exercise will make you feel good. The most important thing is to find a physical activity that makes you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and your physical condition.
3. Pay attention to things
- Notice things out of the ordinary.
- Feel the change of the seasons.
- Savor the moment, whether you’re walking to work, having lunch, or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you feel.
Reflecting on your experiences helps you appreciate what is important to you.
4. Keep learning
- Try something new.
- Rediscover an old hobby.
- Sign up for “that” course.
- Take on a new responsibility at work.
- Set a goal that you would like to achieve.
Learning new things will make you feel more confident, as well as having fun.
5. Do something nice for a friend and smile
- Look out and in.
- Value yourself, and your happiness.
- Create connections with the people around you.
How to avoid depression in your employees
Finally, if you have a managerial or supervisory position, you should give your employees more flexibility, which will result in greater productivity.
Since it’s relatively easy for leaders to have a significant impact on the likelihood of their employees experiencing work-related depression – just control it as little as possible. In this way, not only will your employees do more things, but they will also be happier, so you will be achieving a double victory.
conclusion
The main cause of depression at work can be the loneliness that is experienced due to the strong disconnection from the traditional, direct and personal social ties that we experience every day, ceasing to prefer group activities. On the other hand, the feeling of control in your work is another factor that can contribute negatively to your mental health.
The best way to fix this is to bring the “worldly” character back to work, interact with colleagues, be active, pay attention to things in everyday life, keep learning new things, and do things that are pleasant for others.
However, it must be taken into account that different types of work can also trigger a depression due to different factors, not only those discussed here, but these tips will be especially useful for people who perform sedentary work in offices.
Reference
- Stillman, J. This Is the No. 1 Cause of Depression at Work. For Inc [Revised August 2018].
