We live in a world where work occupies a large part of our daily lives, and therefore holds a central role in our existence. The health of our work environment is vital for our personal happiness and well-being. However, many workers struggle with toxic conditions - pressure, competition, devaluation, and unfair work practices.

As an entrepreneur who is always on the lookout for the right people to join my team, I've heard time and again the reasons that push them to leave their positions, and toxicity is at the top of the list.
How then do we recognize toxicity?

Here we need to do some introspection as the first step to freeing ourselves from a toxic environment is to recognize it. In such an environment, there is constant pressure to perform, and a feeling that we will never be good enough. There is also offensive behavior from colleagues or superiors, a devaluation of hard work, overtime, and a lack of balance between life and work.

Toxic work makes us feel like we're constantly running in a marathon without a finish line. Mentally, we experience intense stress, work burnout, and even depression. Physically, we also get tired, sleep less, eat more (usually not so healthily), and somehow forget to smile and leave ourselves behind.

We asked you to share your own stories with us, with the intention of mentioning them in this article. Below are some anonymously, just as you relayed them to us:

On the way to our happy place, therefore, and leaving such an environment behind, it is good to start by setting boundaries and saying 'no' to excessive demands. The 'no' can be a superpower that we did not know we have, thus supporting ourselves, and this is always acceptable when something is beyond our endurance.

After recognizing the toxicity, we can start looking for new job opportunities that better fit our personal values and goals. And, networking is very crucial. The world is full of people who would be glad to support and help us. By making friends or talking to our colleagues, we build a professional network which will open new doors and opportunities for us, but also help us in the transition towards them.

Every day is a new opportunity to make our life brighter. Saying 'no' to a toxic work environment is not a failure but a decision to seek what we deserve. Because we deserve to smile and wake up in the morning going to our job with joy and enthusiasm.

Xoxo,
Mirketa