What to Do When You Feel Blue at Work

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!Want to join us on social media? We'd love to have you stay up-to-date with the show on all our platforms!TwitterFacebookPinterestInstagramLinkedInYouTubeIn this episode...What to Do When You Feel Blue at Work https://faithfulontheclock.com/what-to-do-when-you-feel-blue-at-work In Episode 42 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast, you’ll get a powerful reminder that Jesus understands what it’s like to be sad on the job. You’ll get a list of options that can beat back the blahs no matter what your role or industry might happen to be.Timestamps:[00:05] - Intro[00:40] - Because depression and anxiety are such personal and economic burdens, we have an obligation to discuss and address mental health concerns.[01:38] - I want you to know I understand what it’s like to not be happy at work and to reassure you that you deserve to be happy on the job.[02:28] - Jesus knows what it’s like to not be happy and to have a tough, stressful job.[03:17] - Common advice such as getting good sleep and praying are critical to good mental health. Start with those things and remember you serve God, not a company.[04:52] - Make sure your issue really is related to work, rather than based on something from outside that you’re bringing into the office.[05:47] - Work blahs can separate into people and stuff blahs. The people blahs often can be addressed with good boundaries and being forthcoming about how others are influencing you.[06:47] - Logistical blahs are things like the nature of the tasks you have or red tape. They can involve a larger organizational structure.[07:11] - Take your breaks to give your mind a chance to completely disconnect from the job. This includes clear logging out at the end of the day and taking vacations allowed.[07:58] - A got-it-done list can help you see how much you really are accomplishing throughout the day.[08:59] - Asking for more flexibility or job crafting can improve how you feel on the job by making the work into something more enjoyable.[10:13] - Have open discussions with your boss about what you need, both to get help for yourself and to normalize mental health support for others. Make sure you know what your company offers.[11:30] - Find a way out of your job if you are experiencing severe cultural issues that are truly damaging. Don’t let your God-given gifts stay unused or hidden.[12:55] - Prayer[13:50] - Outro/What’s coming up nextKey takeaways:Depression and anxiety are incredibly common. You are not alone. But dealing with these issues is important on both individual and social levels.There’s more acknowledgment of mental health issues now than in the past, especially given the pandemic. I personally understand what it is like to struggle, and Jesus has been in the same position, too.There’s no magic fix for work-related depression and anxiety, but giving your cares to God is a good start. It also helps to remember that work is a gift from God.Clarify whether your blahs actually come from work before you do anything else. We often can bring issues from outside into our jobs. Blahs from people might take strategies like bringing in HR and drawing good boundaries with others on your team.Blahs from more logistical stuff can be harder to fix. They can include strategies such as taking breaks, job crafting, and asking for more flexibility.Open discussions about how your doing might be necessary so you can get good support and flexibility from your boss. They can only help with what they know about. Your willingness to admit you need some assistance can normalize mental health discussions for others.A got-it-done list can remind you of everything you really are getting done and are competent about.If you truly have a toxic culture you can’t budge, don’t stay. Go somewhere where you can shine. The Pandemic Accelerant: How COVID-19 Advanced Our Mental Health Priorities | United NationsHow to Deal with Depression at Work | CignaHow to Cope with Depression at Work | Psych CentralMental Health and Substance UseDepression Statistics Everyone Should KnowCTAs:Employ one or more of the strategies outlined in the show to protect your mental health. Share this episode of the show with others who might be struggling because of on-the-job stress or career uncertainty.What’s coming up next:Episode 43 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast tackles the trend of executive worship. It reveals why holding up certain leaders as celebrity models isn’t helpful and provides a practical alternative for finding personal inspiration.Support the show!Visit the Faithful on the Clock Patreon page to choose a tier plan and become a supporting member. 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