Besides the obvious things like yelling, bullying, manipulation or discrimination there are many more signs that you might be working at a toxic workplace.

Signs that might not be that obvious are:
-Being micromanaged by your superior
-No work life balance
-Employees who have given up and are only doing the absolute minimum so they don’t get fired.

People will get demotivated and frustrated by all of the above and especially if you’re trying to make a difference you are going to have a very hard time swimming against the tide.

Don’t sacrifice your mental health

Way too many people hate their lives because they can’t stand the company they are working for and they hate the overall work environment.
This can lead to anxiety, depression and burnout.

Mental health issues are on the rise and the sad reality is that the amount of people who are affected is way higher than what we think.
Just look around. How many people do you know who hate their job and that are anxious every Sunday when thinking about the next week?
That’s certainly not a good way of living.

Some people seem to handle bad work environments better than others.
What is it that they are doing differently and what can you do to improve your situation?

Here are some tips on how to deal with a toxic work environment.

How to do it

1. Avoid the office gossip

2. Focus on what you can control

3. Set boundaries and detach

4. Have options

5. Quit
   

Avoid the office gossip:
It's totally natural and often really good to chat with your coworkers, but it's super important to avoid getting caught up in gossip. Sure, gossip might seem fun or harmless at first, but if you keep doing it, it can create a pretty toxic vibe at work. This negativity can slowly break down trust, hurt morale, and cause separation in the team.

To keep things positive and healthy at work, it's key to set clear boundaries with everyone. Let them know, either by what you are doing or by saying it outright, that you're not into gossip. Remember, surrounding yourself with negativity will only make you more negative as well.

Focus on what you can control:
One of the things that is driving productive and motivated people crazy is when others are doing the exact opposite.
Very few things can be achieved alone. In most cases you need different departments to work together.
Lazy colleagues that are not taking the job as seriously as you will hold you definitely back.

The truth is that most likely you won’t be able to change that fact.
Don’t allow their laziness and unreliability to drive you crazy.
Focus only on the things that you can control. Do the best job that you can and don’t let them frustrate you.

Set boundaries and detach:
One great way to protect your well-being in a tough work environment is by setting clear and firm boundaries with your coworkers and managers.
This means being crystal clear about what behaviors and conditions you will and won’t accept – whether it’s overly long working hours, too much micromanagement, or any form of bullying and harassment.
By taking the lead in defining what’s okay and what’s not, you can regain a lot of control over your work life.
For example, if you’re often asked to work beyond your agreed hours, it’s crucial to communicate your limits clearly and professionally.
How you said it is equally as important as the message itself.

Make sure to detach from work at a certain hour of the day.
Don’t look at your email or phone and do something fun. Spend time with your family, go for a walk or do sports.
We all need some time after work to come down.
Don’t cut this time too short or you won’t be able to relax.

Have options:
Having multiple options will also give you more confidence and reduce anxiety.
Having different job options will not only put you in a better position when it comes to negotiating, it will also reduce your anxiety since you don’t necessarily need this job to work out.
People will know if you are desperate or not, so make sure to always be in contact with different companies and headhunters.
Building your network is one of the most important things for your career.

If you don’t have options you are much more vulnerable and you might need to stick with a certain job that you don’t like.

Quit:
Obviously quitting your job is always an option. Most people are too afraid of doing that but honestly speaking, there is no reason to be afraid.
Most likely you will get a new job in the next couple of months, so quitting is always something that you can do.

The problem in today’s society is that very few people care about others.
Most of your colleagues only care about themselves. That’s why they are unreliable.
You might get lucky and find a company where most people are like you and where working is fun. Who knows.
Usually you’re always going to be working with some people that will drive you crazy if you let them, so you have to learn to be more resilient.

In conclusion

You should never allow others to negatively affect your mental health. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about manipulative and aggressive superiors or lazy and unreliable colleagues.
Quitting and finding a new place to work is always an option you can take, so don’t be afraid of doing that if you can’t take it anymore.

It’s important to be aware of one thing though. People won’t change and you are always going to work with some people that will drive you crazy.
Don’t allow them to do that and focus only on the things you can control.
Set clear boundaries and detach from work at a certain point.

Thank you for reading.