5 Tips for Mental Self-Care in a Toxic Work Environment

Many people start a new job or career full of excitement and anticipation. While some people are thrilled at being offered a position in a new field, others dream of eventually moving up the ladder into leadership or managerial roles. What we often don’t anticipate during our initial period of euphoria is the potential for toxicity in the work environment in the days, weeks, months, or even years into the job. The stress associated with a toxic work environment can feel mentally overwhelming. Here are five tips for mental self-care in a toxic work environment.

1. Ask Yourself Critical Questions

Usually, our feelings and responses to stressful work situations is our signal to alert us that we are not happy on the job. It is vital, however, to evaluate whether the tension you are experiencing is linked to greater meaning beyond commonplace issues at work. Asking yourself questions like, “In what ways does this environment negatively affect other areas of my life?” Or, “Does working here contribute to a diminished sense of myself?” can be helpful in determining whether you are working in a toxic environment. Some commonalities in toxic work environments might include chronic stress, bullying, and being overworked.