Effects of a Stressful Job on the Mental Health and Environment
Today’s corporate jobs are demanding and usually have extended hours. Working hours necessitate prolonged periods of sitting in front of a computer. The fact that the office ambiance is comfortable, with controlled temperatures, flowing cold recycled and filtered air, uninterrupted doses of coffee, and colleagues from reputable institutes does not imply lower stress levels. Furthermore, working in a well-connected global organization requires one to always perform to the best of his efficiency, with round-the-clock availability & accountability. Consequently, irregular work timings may have an adverse effect on a person’s cognitive abilities.
It is critical to strike a balance between person’s professional and personal life, for both physical and psychological health. Mental health has a significant impact on people’s lives. Long business hours have various health consequences depending on factors such as the number of hours, job characteristics, socioeconomic status, and the individual’s health condition. Working excessively can significantly impact our well-being and may raise the risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, stroke, and other illnesses resulting in serious health issues.
Overworking is so common in Japan that there is a legal term to describe the cause of death: “karoshi,” which means death by overwork. Yet, longer office hours have been praised for contributing to fast economic growth in the Asia-Pacific countries. Even in India, the side effects of extended working hours are discussed so many times but have yet to receive sufficient attention.
In today’s world, many people lead an unhealthy & sedentary lifestyle and inadvertently consume a lot of artificial sugar, unhealthy snacks, and more calories. These sweetened munching products are packaged in appealing plastic. This means that, briefly, we are not only leading a pernicious, stressful lifestyle but also contributing significantly to plastic pollution.
Mental health improvement measures
On this World Mental Health Day, let us resolve to make small changes to our lifestyle, beginning with better sitting posture, frequent breaks, staying hydrated, and eating more fresh fruit & veg instead of artificial sugars. Organizations should also acknowledge the adverse impact of long working hours. Overworked employees are less productive than those working an average week. This thought led to the idea of a 4-day working week instead of a standard 5-day working week. Nations with shorter employment hours have a smaller carbon footprint and reducing our work week from five to four days could also benefit the environment. Our working week would be shorter, employees would not need to commute as much, and large office buildings would only be used four days a week.
Controlling the carbon footprint
Environmentally conscious organizations like Evirocor are striving to increase awareness amongst corporate employees to consume more fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads instead of sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks. Healthy snack options can be packed in biodegradable Oko food containers and not in ubiquitous plastic packaging, which is typically discarded in garbage bins and rarely recycled.
Conclusion
Building mental health literacy entails increasing employees’ knowledge and skills so that they can better manage their own well-being and seek help. For example, if there is someone in your life struggling with their mental health due to overwork, the best thing you can do is reach out and start a conversation.
In addition, ensuring staff and managers understand mental health issues and the factors that affect the workplace. This awareness is critical for building a healthy, happy, and high-performing working environment.