Could Your Job Be Making You Sick?
I’ve just quit another job, well the positive upside to this is that I wasn’t fired. Here’s the thing, we know when a job no longer serves us and we know when we need to either leave or move up the ladder. Get this, we don’t because we have fears, an irrational fear so the question still stands, do you stay in your job or do you leave?
Your Ego will tell you in the back of your mind - STAY! However, the more we ignore our soul of doing something that you don’t like let alone love, it will eat away at your soul because now you’re not happy, which then leads to stress, which then leads to medical issues which then moves you into another bad situation of going to a job you no longer like and constantly sick!
In Martha Beck’s book North Star she explains when the “Essential Self” isn’t happy it is harder for you to study, work and keep interested. Take for example a movie you once watched and loved compared to a movie that really didn’t interest you, which movie are you going to remember the most?
She further talks about not being aligned to your soul purpose especially when it comes to work, for example when your energy is full and positive than you are on the right path. However, when your job makes you feel exhausted and constantly tired but magically changes when you get home, maybe you need to reassess your job. Are you aware, that when your soul is off course, it will do it’s best to return you back to where you need to be and this done by giving you signals which includes being sick, loosing your patience to people and not being fully engaged all of which maybe bought up in your performance review.
1. The Performance Review
Here’s the thing, in Australia performance reviews are not a legal requirement in the workplace but get this, if you as a company want to get rid of someone because they are performing below company expectations, then with Fair Work 2009 states that their lack of performance needs to be documented before unfairly dismissing a worker. So in other words it’s the company covering their arse before they fire you.
Look at it this way, if you’re not happy where you are and still sitting on the fence on whether to transfer within your company or leave, use the performance review to your advantage by listening to your boss and what they have to say about you but also ask your questions of where you can move within the company. In saying that, I’ve been in big companies where the boss really doesn’t know you and they rely on other people in your team to give them their judgements for the performance review, so really engage with your boss and get as much information you can during the review.
2. What Are The Signs
At times we do choose a career that we ultimately love and have the passion to do, which highly motivates you to get to work and do your best.Then something changes and you notice that your not bouncing up when your alarm goes off and your beginning to feel more tired throughout the day and you may have even noticed that you’ve been sick more often then the previous years.
Can you remember, when this has happened to you but never really noticed it and continued working getting through day by day. You’re not alone, most of us have been there, not being self-aware of ourselves and our bodies.
In my experience it begins with the tiredness and not the tiredness like you’ve just done seven nights straight kind of tired. I’m talking about fatigue, the same kind of fatigue that your teenage kid has when they need to get to school, the exhaustion when you’re at work just fighting to get through the day it feels like the energy has just been drained out of you. Let’s not forget the Sunday night exhaustion whilst you make a choice to either go to work or take a sickie.
Some people, get headaches and migraines not just occasionally but they become more frequent and it occurs when your workload is light more so then when your workload was full.
If you are like me, then you may get muscle tension with maybe a little jaw clenching and teeth grinding. This is always found in my upper back and neck. Get this, both Louise Hay and Inna Segal have written books on the pain correlated to certain areas of the body it’s very informative and gives you something to think about.
Another symptom, maybe stomach problems such IBS, nausea and vomiting, changes in appetite and maybe changes in your bowel movements. This is common especially if you feel as though you are not worthy of being in your job or job role or you may feel bullied in the workplace which can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Have you ever had a sleepless night due to work? I’ve even had dreams about work, clearly those are clues that I need a change. They say, not to bring your personal issues into work but you also need to leave your work day at work.
What about this, emotional outbursts like crying all of a sudden which is mainly due to the feeling of being overwhelmed and burnt out.
The feeling of being ill more often which is connected to your immunity related to stress. I went to a Doctor which I don’t usually like doing but I was getting sick more frequently and also needed a sick note for work. I did have a good doctor someone I could talk too, she asked me the most important question - Are you happy at your job?, I replied no. Not long after that I gave my notice in and it was a long while before I was sick again.
Perhaps you’ve noticed a change in your physical habits, such as eating habits or you maybe drinking alcohol more than usual. Here’s a sneaky clue, drinking more coffee than usual so that you can get through the day, that is my tell. I’m not usually a heavy coffee drinker but when I’m in a job that I don’t like it becomes apparent through the amount of coffee I drink.
Has it ever occurred to you that you may get increased heart rate or chest tightness, if you have you may need to see a medical practitioner just to be sure that it’s anxiety that’s causing this medical issue and nothing else. There might me a change on your smart watch as well when analysing the data where you may see the difference in your heart rate, however don’t question it and see a Doctor.
6. Conclusion
You know about these things because they are related to stress and anxiety which is bought on by you not liking your job and not being happy. This is also connected to your spirit not aligning with what you are meant to do.
Now, you may not stay in a job for a long time or your path may change direction over the years and that’s good, it’s growth and experience. Follow, your heart and do what you love doing, it won’t be clear sailing but you will know when it no longer serves you and you can let it go and make a change.
If you feel that you are experiencing a few of these issues then take a look at where you are in your work life and if not what can you do to change it?
7. Book Your FREE Discovery Call or Message Me
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With gratitude for the light we share and the journey we walk together, may your path be blessed with peace and purpose. So shall it be
