The demands of work can drive anyone to distress.
Right now, workplace horror stories and tales of burnout are prevalent amongst not just younger workers more attuned to their mental wellbeing, but people from across a number of different sectors, roles, and ages.
Managers, executives, and new starters alike are experiencing the difficulties of working and finding it hard to come to terms with what we call the ‘new normal’.
The cure for this, in part at least, might just be a greater acceptance of wellness principles. If not to eradicate this problem, then to make it more manageable.
In this article, we’ll cover four careers where accepting wellness ideals might just be essential.
Armed forces
Mental health struggles are, unfortunately, increasingly common within the armed forces.
Nobody aware of the military and the demands on the roles within it will be surprised by this, as roles within the armed forces are routinely listed as some of the most mentally and physically demanding in the United States.
On top of this, military roles require intense dedication, physical excellence, and extended periods away from home and loved ones. Any role where this is a factor is bound to have an impact before you consider the unique nature of life working on the battlefield.
The increase in armed forces personnel requiring therapy treatments and working with VA Claim Pros on medical strategies is increasing each year, with similar enterprises to VA Claim Pros becoming lifelines for veterans and active personal alike to support themselves and their families during internal struggles.
While wellbeing can’t account for the demands and long-term effects of serving in the armed forces, it can help to offer some relief from common afflictions including PTSD and insomnia, whether through physical therapy or an acceptance of calming meditation techniques.
Service and retail
Service and retail workers rarely get the respect and appreciation they deserve.
The hours are long and anti-social. The pay is often not up to scratch. Shifts stack onto one another. It can be difficult to get out once you’re in. The list goes on.
While there are rewards to working in these industries and careers to be carved out, many people see service and retail roles as a stop-gap career and struggle to deal with the challenges they present, turning instead to negative habits and routines.
Roles such as bartenders and cashiers are known for a loss of ambition and relationship struggles. This can be intensely difficult to deal with. By turning to wellness, employees in these roles can help avoid the common vices of the workplace and explore healthier alternatives to the late nights and ill-health they often promote.
In addition, these roles are often associated with significant amounts of stress. Workers are known for frustration with customers and new staff with limited work experience who only make their roles more difficult. Embracing wellness can make these situations easier to manage, as this Embolden study and guide suggests.
Tech
Despite featuring many of the top companies of our time, innovating in exciting projects and products across the world, the tech sector is one filled with people struggling from both burnout and mental health issues.
This had led to many companies such as Microsoft adopting favorable wellness policies that have received a lot of praise. However, despite this, tech workers are some of the most stressed and overworked in the world.
There is an increasingly high demand for tech products, whether it’s the devices that organize our days or entertainment products that help us wind down, such as video games. This leads to intensely hard working conditions, where it’s not uncommon to commit to long overtime hours.
To overcome these challenging periods, tech workers should consider delving into meditation. This can help them unwind in the evenings and go to work the next day more recharged than they would typically be. A common issue within this sector is imposter syndrome, so focusing your wellness efforts on addressing this common issue and challenging your perception of self-worth is an important step.
Healthcare
Now more than ever, the plight of working within healthcare has been laid bare.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown regular people the demanding nature of working in healthcare, with tales of overworked staff suffering trauma becoming all too common.
It’s not just worldwide pandemics that make working in healthcare difficult though. The role demands both expert knowledge and excellent people skills, as workers are often tasked with dealing with distressed and upset patients. This, coupled with intense, long working hours leads to many doctors, nurses, and care assistants becoming disillusioned with the role or suffering mental breakdowns.
While many of the challenges of this line of work demand medical help and counseling to overcome, wellness can offer a space for escape. It can help healthcare workers process the trauma they’re struggling with. Alternatively, the National Academy of Medicine has some brilliant guides for professionals struggling with this issue.
On top of this, accepting wellness in healthcare is essential from a financial stability point of view. If employees cannot come to work because of burnout or other ill effects of the role, it puts a particular strain on hospitals and care homes.
Wellness can take many forms. It can be:
- Meditation
- Breathing exercises
- Exercise
- Food therapy
- Socializing
Whatever career path you’re walking down, find something that works for you. Good wellness is about setting aside the challenges of your day job and doing something that allows you to express yourself or look inwards for inner peace.
These are just four lines of work where accepting wellness ideals might just essential. But the list is growing every day. More and more people are struggling and wellness might be the key to at least mitigating these effects.
