Healthy Career, Happy Life: Why Your Job Matters More Than You Think

While some of us are disconnected from cultural discussions, the importance of emotional and physical wellness is now extremely  popular and widely shared in online chat groups. Millennials no longer feel forced to hide their deepest darkest thoughts from the outside world. The ones born in the digital age as well as those on the verge of technological revolution show a vulnerable character in confronting challenges impacting their mental health And naturally, solutions like mindfulness have become the buzz on social platforms. We’re quick to diagnose problems and share the root of it all – from upbringing and childhood trauma to relationships and anxieties caused by global events. But how often do we talk about the impact of our work lives on our mental wellbeing? Apart from a few memes here and a few reels there, do we really consider the impact of our professional lives on our mental wellbeing?

Consider life as a series of dominoes. One domino falling sets off a domino effect that affects the others. Your career is just like that first domino – a crucial factor influencing your physical, mental, and emotional health.

The Importance of Career Health

According to a study conducted by Times of India on 1,350 Indian workforce employees in varied organisations across industries and locales, approximately 60% are unhappy at work. Career health is an important but often overlooked aspect of overall well-being. While physical fitness and mental health are widely mentioned, other factors also play an important part in our everyday happiness. Understanding how a successful profession contributes to a happier life might help you make significant changes to improve your overall well-being. A healthy career involves more than just employment. What it includes is:

1. Job satisfaction: You love what you do and look forward to going to work every day
2. Work- life balance: Your job allows you enough time and opportunities to pursue other interests
3. Mental Health: You’re not constantly stressed or on the verge of a burnout
4. Career Progression: You’re growing at a good pace and you’re happy with your growth trajectory.

The Hidden Effects of Career Health on Your Life

Your work consumes a lot of your energy, influencing all aspects from your finances to your social life. A comfortable workspace and a great career gives you confidence, and improves the happiness of your life. However, if you’re trapped in an irritating working environment or disappointed with your position, it can genuinely impact your physical and mental health.  On the other hand, a career that inspires and challenges in a supportive culture can fill your days with meaning and your nights with peace.

Impact of Job Stress on Physical Health

Research by the National Institute of Health indicates a direct link between physical health problems and occupational stress. Prolonged stress, which frequently results from hard work settings, can cause a variety of issues like:

1. Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: Stress can increase the risk of heart related diseases by  22%. Constant pressure and high blood pressures leads to overall poor heart health.
2. Digestive Problems: Stress is associated with digestive problems too. About 54% of people with work-related stress are going through issues of insomnia and anxiety.
3. Higher Rates of Dyslipidemia: Dyslipidemia is the cellular overproduction of fats which leads to unhealthy lipid profiles. Research says that the condition increases to almost 36% with high stress.
4. Concerns for Obesity: Obesity is the most common concern for the youths in the nation. According to research, long-term stress raises obesity by 40%.  Obesity causes an energy difference in an individual and is detrimental to a person’s general health.
5. Fatigue and Sleep Problems: Chronic stress is further associated with significant fatigue and sleeping problems.  There is a 54% more significant frequency of insomnia or  symptoms of depression among the highly stressed population.

Connection between Mental Health and Job Satisfaction

Having a meaningful job will strengthen your mental and emotional wellbeing. Your confidence level increases, you will be less anxious and generally more positive about life if you feel engaged and valued in your job. As Forbes reports, a meaningful career provides:

1. Self Satisfaction: It is the feeling of being attached to your work that brings purpose and meaning into your life. All of this combined leads to 20% more productivity.
2. Boosts self-esteem and confidence: Confidence results in a 15% increase in job performance, which actually means better quality and engagement.
3. Reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression: A job that is rewarding reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, increasing work-life balance by 25%. This gives you more time for personal activities and thus reduces overall stress. 
4. Improves problem-solving abilities: Happy employees have a high sense of problem solving, which enables them to generate applicable solutions that are effective that improve the work environment.

Now that we understand the importance of career health to our overall health, the question remains, how do we do it?

How to Attain a Healthy Career

1. Pursue your interests and values: Engage your career with your personal interests and goals
2. Set realistic expectations: Have unattainable work pressures and focus more on taking care of yourself.
3. Establish good relationships: Create good relationships with work peers and superiors.
4. Seek growth opportunities: Develop skills and increase knowledge.
5. Cut down on wasted time: Prioritise work and make a delegation of work if need be.

The fact that career health translates directly to general good health cannot be overstated. If people want jobs that are rewarding and long-lasting, they should concentrate on job satisfaction, work-life balance, and personal development. Remember: your profession is part of your life, and investing in its success is the best investment you can make in yourself.

Professional happiness is evidently correlated with overall well-being. Rewarding and long-term careers have their foundation in professional happiness, work-life balance, and personal development legacies. Remember that your professional life is such a big share of your whole life; therefore, investing in its success means investing in yourself. Are you ready to take control of your career and realise all you can do?

With Mentoria, you’ll get hands-on techniques and top-notch guidance to achieve a successful career and personal life. Get expert guidance from India’s top 1% career coaches to discover your ideal career path, build your job profile, master the art of interviews and land a job you’ll enjoy and excel at.

Our experienced advisors are here to provide you with the emotional support and practical advice you need during times of change, enabling you to meet challenges with confidence and clarity. With Mentoria, you will have what it takes to succeed at your job and truly develop. 

Let the journey toward better living begin.