Work and Your Health
Kent R.
I worked 6 months as a Software Development Engineer Intern at XXX, and then I got converted to a full time employee and worked as Software Development Engineer for a year.
But during the year I got stressed and my health declined too. Mainly because I wasn't able to live up to the expectation of my manager and team members. I was constantly stressed. I don't know how or what happened. I started being aloof from people and that loneliness further added to my problems and I fell into depression. I took 2 months of leave. When I returned I was being monitored quite strictly because of my performance before, and this I couldn't handle well. I got severely frustrated and quit my job. A really really good job, with a really good pay scale and great opportunities for growth.
I need advice about how to take next steps as I am very down in confidence and all I feel that I may not get that good level of job again.
Last week, I received a lot of e-mails about my post on Workism – elevating the role that work plays in your life to unhealthy levels. Sadly, though, that is not unusual. Thanks to the increasingly competitive employment landscape, e-mails like the (lightly edited) one above regularly flow into my inbox.
Have you had something similar happen in your career? Here are three suggestions:
1) Regularly scout “the best” companies. Always have an idea of places you’d like to work. Believe me, the span is wide when it comes to healthy vs. unhealthy workplaces. As a matter of fact, I’ve started to limit my Business Consulting practice to only organizations that have decent work environments (and are actively working to make them better). There are a lot of toxic work environments out there. Steer clear.
2) Evaluate your relationship with work. Are you searching for too much meaning in work, causing you to fall prey to some of the symptoms of Workism? Check out the list and honestly evaluate your relationship with each factor.
3) Start with you. You can give to others (friends, family, employers) no better than you give to yourself. That’s why I always say that life’s greatest challenge – and greatest reward – is figuring out yourself. Nothing can take away your confidence if you have a strong sense of who you are. With deep self-knowledge, setbacks become road bumps rather than complete life-derailing events.
Currently, I’m putting the finishing touches on my ultimate manifesto for living with purpose and vision (it’s all about figuring out you). Watch for it in the months ahead. For now, feel free to sign up for newsletter updates by clicking on the green box in the lower right corner.
Update: Our podcast on how to avoid the trap of workism is now live. Additionally, our book – Stop Hating Mondays – is also available for individuals looking to build more fulfilling, on purpose lives.