Is Your Job Making You Sick?

Has your job ever made you sick? Occupational Wellness is an often overlooked aspect of one’s health. There are many factors that can influence holistic wellbeing, all typically reducing back to stress, but one’s profession can be the most dominant factor if it is not kept in check.  

It is important to acknowledge that your occupational choice encompasses more than simply your job title and description. The physical workplace, atmosphere, colleagues, possible promotions, salaries, and much more all take part in your occupation. According to Merriam-Webster, occupation is defined as “the principal business of one’s life”, which means it not only affects your perception of self-worth but also has a long-lasting role in your life. 

As a society, we have put major strains to perform well in life, specifically by succeeding in your profession. These pressures cause your occupation to be a major influence on health and wellbeing. Wellness encompasses many different things; but, the general interpretation, according to the National Wellness Institute, is that it is an “evolving process of achieving full potential” and “is multidimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being.” Professional success directly correlates to our full potential and affects our lifestyle. Sedentary jobs prevent an active lifestyle and long work hours can harm sleep schedule.  Many jobs will increase stress levels, and some even require a lack of social interaction. These all lead back to unhealthy habits in the workplace and can have negative effects on your health. 

This is the challenge that occupational wellness addresses. It aims to find personal satisfaction and enrichment in one’s employment by putting your unique skills and talents towards work that is personally meaningful. This way, not only are you using your occupation for self-fulfillment (mental health care) but also to create a comfortable and healthy lifestyle. Occupational Wellness follows these rules, according to the National Wellness Institute; 

• “It is better to choose a career that is consistent with our personal values, interests, and beliefs than to select one that is unrewarding to us. 
• It is better to develop functional, transferable skills through structured involvement opportunities than to remain inactive and uninvolved.”

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