“So, what do you do for work?”
The mere question is a bit of a loaded one.
And it can lead to holding preconceived notions about the other that may not necessarily be true.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
How can that added pressure manifest itself and affect our mental health?
This becomes especially prominent when time spent on other values becomes displaced by work.
Career success is often encouraged to be the ultimate life goal.
High-achieverstend to be rewarded financially.
having a sense of purpose, drive, etc.)?
Romanoff: If your self-worth is tied to what you do then all outcomes will influence your self-perception.
Here lies the central conflict for people who fuse their identity with their work.
VW Mind:A controversial topic, but is it ever really possible to achieve a perfect work-life balance?
Romanoff: Criticism of your work is often internalized as a criticism of you as a person.
When people are over-identified they tend to become defensive or dejected as they perceive criticism as a personal failure.
You find it hard to unplug and are constantly thinking about or checking in on work.
These tendencies lead to burnout and a lack of mental acuity.
Your relationships are distant, rocky, or tense.
Take inventory of how youre feeling and how your work impacts you emotionally.
You also mightmicromanageand seize control to ensure a good outcome instead of trusting your team.
VW Mind:Do you find this has become more of a prevalent issue during the pandemic?
This coincides withParkinsons Law, in which work expands to the time that is available for its completion.
Ensure that you are finding meaning in your work.
Outline your goals for your projected career growth or path.
This helps with instilling feelings of progression and will protect against concerns of being trapped in your position.
Romanoff: The best way to start is to lead by example.
Beingsolutions-focusedinstead of problem-focused is another way to communicate your values without sparking defensiveness in your friends.
Romanoff: Before approaching your boss, identify the source of the problem.
Are you enmeshed with work and overloading yourself due to self-imposed pressure?
Or are unreasonable expectations being placed on you from external sources like your boss, team, or company?
I love cooking and having people over for dinner.
VW Mind:What are some self-care practices our readers can incorporate regularly after a long days work?
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Managing Stressful Situations: The Importance of Teamwork.
Desmotivacion del personal sanitario y sindrome de burnout.
Control de las situaciones de tension.
La importancia del trabajo en equipo.Actas Dermosifiliogr.
2016;107(5):400-406. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2015.09.016
