The Surprising Ways Your Coworkers Can Impact Your Personal Wellness

Coworkers can have a significant impact on our personal wellness, whether we realize it or not. Research has found that our colleagues can affect our mental, emotional, and even physical health. In this article, we’ll explore some surprising ways your coworkers can impact your personal wellness, and what you can do about it.

The Social Support of Co-Workers

Let’s start with the most obvious way your coworkers can impact your personal wellness: through social support. Having a good relationship with your colleagues can provide a sense of belonging, boost your mood, and lower stress levels. On the other hand, negative or toxic work relationships can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, both of which can be detrimental to your mental health.

According to one study, people who had positive interactions with coworkers were less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Conversely, those who reported negative interactions with coworkers had increased rates of depression and anxiety.

Workload and Stress

Coworkers can also impact your personal wellness by influencing your workload and stress levels. When coworkers are overloaded with work, it can create a stressful environment that can affect the health of everyone involved. Additionally, coworkers who are competitive or critical can increase stress levels and negatively impact mental health.

If you find yourself in a stressful work environment, it’s important to speak up. Let your supervisor or HR department know about the issues you are facing, and work with them to alleviate the situation.

Physical Health

Finally, it’s important to recognize that your coworkers can also impact your physical health. One study found that people who had more social support at work had lower cortisol levels, which is a hormone associated with stress. In contrast, people who had less social support had higher cortisol levels, which can lead to physical and mental health problems.

Furthermore, coworkers who engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or eating unhealthy foods, can lead others to adopt those same behaviors. This can have long-term health consequences.

Conclusion

In summary, your coworkers can impact your personal wellness in a variety of ways. Positive work relationships can boost your mood and lower stress levels, while negative relationships can increase anxiety and depression. Coworkers can also influence workload and stress levels, and unhealthy behaviors may be adopted by others in the workplace.

If you find yourself in a negative work environment, it’s important to take steps to address the issues. Speak up to your supervisor or HR department, set boundaries, and take time for self-care. Remember, your personal wellness is important, and taking care of yourself should always be a top priority.