How Poor Work Boundaries Impact Your Mental and Physical Health

A new survey asked people whether their supervisors expected them to attend to communications after hours, and 21% said yes. Compared to people who weren't expected to respond, those in this group were significantly more likely to feel psychological distress and emotional exhaustion. They also reported higher instances of physical ailments, including back pain and headaches.

Take two minutes to read, explore, and reflect. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Poor Work Boundaries Impact Mental and Physical Health   Finding work-life balance has always been a challenge, and the pandemic's stay-at-home measures further blurred the line between office and home for many. Even when we're technically allowed to "sign off" for the day, many people remain digitally available by checking emails, slack, text messages, and calls.    A new survey by The Conversation asked 2,200 participants whether their supervisors expected them to attend to communications after hours, and 21% said yes. Compared to people who weren't expected to respond, those in this group were significantly more likely to feel psychological distress and emotional exhaustion. They also reported higher instances of physical ailments, including back pain and headaches.   Another study from May 2021 discovered that those who work more than 55 hours a week were 35% more likely to experience a stroke, and 17% were more likely to die from ischemic heart disease than those working 35 to 40 hours each week.     Being expected to stay connected after work hours may make a person feel that others are working long hours as well, and if they do not, they fear being viewed as not working as hard as others."  — DESREEN DUDLEY, PSY.D.  What This Means For You There's a real link between our mental and physical health and overextending ourselves at work. If you find yourself unable to "log off" from work either due to a persistent employer or your own compulsions, it's important to make a change now.   Schedule a conversation with your supervisor to discuss your concerns, create and adhere to a routine, and try to create as much physical and mental separation as possible between the office and your personal life. Also make a deliberate effort to regularly re-assess work-related behaviors and habits.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week What's Inspiring Us Written by Denise R. Green, Work-Life Brilliance aims to help you feel more fulfilled in all parts of your life. It equips you with tools to break stress and foster mental and physical health. Products to Help You Feel Your Best If you're currently using a living space as your office, it's time to create a designated work zone to create a clearer line between work and personal life. If you do not have a closed room, simply allocating a small corner of the room can help. Flexispot's L Shaped Electric Standing Desk fits snugly into any corner. Out of sight, out of mind. The Phonebed Charging Station is a designated spot for you to place your devices at the end of the day. It charges 10 devices at a time, reduces screen time, and promotes healthier sleep. Read These Next Can a Stressful Job Cause Heart Disease? READ NOW 4 Signs of Burnout to Watch Out For READ NOW 10 Things to Stop Doing If You're Stressed READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy