When Sunday evening rolls around, do you get a knot of dread in the pit of your stomach? Do you groan every morning when your alarm sounds? Nearly everyone experiences days when they want to pull the covers back over their heads, even if they love their jobs. However, if it happens frequently, you might have excess stress at work. If you recognise any of these signs, make taming your tension a priority.
By Mia Barnes
Image: Anthony Tran
1. You Start Smoking or Vaping
Nearly everyone knows the dangers of smoking — but that doesn’t keep some office staff away from the designated bench during break time. Don’t assume that vaping is healthier, either. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarettes caused an outbreak of lung disease, which proved fatal in several instances.
If you previously kicked the habit but now heed the siren song of the convenience store display, consider what drove you back to it. It could be excess work stress.
2. You Extend Happy Hour Too Long
Image: Louis Hansel
Are you putting in long hours night after night? According to an analysis of 61 studies involving over 300,000 participants, employees who work more than 48 hours weekly are 13% more likely to engage in risky drinking.
That statistic doesn’t mean they get behind the wheel intoxicated. Instead, they might use more than a nightcap to shut down after a long day at the office. Their hectic schedule doesn’t change the fact that more than one drink a day can produce severe adverse health effects.
3. You Overeat
Image: Louis Hansel
Stress raises your cortisol levels. This hormone stimulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism, spurring your body to release insulin to keep your blood sugar levels in check. The result is often a raging appetite — and weight gain. If you noticed pounds creeping on that you can’t explain, it could be the tension you feel eight hours a day in your workplace.
4. You Start Skipping the Gym
Image: Luis Quintero
Exercise is one of the top ways to bust stress. However, too much tension can lead to depression, making you lose interest in previously enjoyable activities. If you once lived for Zumba class but now can’t wait to get home and binge Netflix, you might have too much stress at work.
5. You Experience Aches and Pains
Chronic pain can stem from multiple factors and always deserves a doctor’s visit if you have the means. You could have an underlying disorder that will only grow worse if you neglect it.
However, stress also floods your muscles with hormones, causing them to contract. Over time, this effect can result in painful spasms, and you might get more head or backaches than usual. These substances also increase inflammation, meaning if you have a disorder like rheumatoid arthritis, you could suffer more debilitating flares.
6. You Make Careless Errors
Only one missed zero — but there’s a sizable difference between $100,000 and $1 million. If you once had an eagle eye for detail but recently started making careless errors, stress may be your culprit. Your brain is a muscle, and research shows that work breaks replenish your mental resources and help you become more creative and conscientious.
7. You Rarely Make Pleasant Water Cooler Chitchat
Excess stress can lead to anxiety and depression, neither of which makes you feel very social. The thought of approaching others can induce panic, or you might feel like mingling requires way too much energy. Your colleagues will likely notice if you were once vivacious and now do little more than eat lunch at your desk and stare at your computer. Consider their concern as a warning sign.
8. You Get the Sunday Blues
Image: Damir Spanic
It’s natural to feel a little wistful on Sunday evening. It’s the same reason why people feel depressed after the holidays — once the joyous anticipation abates, it’s back to business as usual.
However, if your despair over punching in the following day causes you to snap at your partner and kids, it’s time for an intervention. Schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss work-life balance. If that doesn’t help or even seem plausible, start dusting off your resume.
9. Sadness Lasts All Week Long
Prolonged stress can lead to severe physical and mental health disorders. It can put a strain on your ticker, as tension increases blood pressure, and lead to melancholy.
If you feel like a hamster on a wheel and nothing you do matters, schedule an appointment with a licensed mental health provider. Depression can stem from multiple factors, but a counselor can help you discover the root cause and a path for moving forward. Left untreated, it can lead to suicide — and rates in America continue to rise.
Heed the Signs That You’re Experiencing Stress at Work
If you have excess stress at work, it can have severe consequences. Heed the signs above so you know when to reach out for help.