Did you know that anger is a healthy emotion that all people experience from time to time? In fact, anger is a normal and natural emotion that actually has a number of important emotional and mental benefits when expressed constructively.
Journaling, exercising, talking with a trusted companion or therapist are all prime examples of healthy expressions of anger. However destructive anger expressions, such as outbursts on the job, can have serious consequences in a number of ways.
Though it may seem surprising, workplace anger has become increasing common. This is especially true for professions that experience a great deal of workplace stress, such as law enforcement and emergency medicine. Workplace anger can also take place in office environments, and any other professional setting.
Although the causes of workplace anger can vary from individual to individual, an improper work-life balance is a common cause, in addition to general job stress. Some causes of workplace anger however, are more difficult to spot, especially since employees are often strongly encouraged to “push through” any kind of emotional, mental, or even physical discomfort.
Here are three surprising causes of workplace anger:
Poor diet
Everyone knows that what you eat has a direct effect on the physical body, but did you know that diet also plays an important role in brain function, including how you process emotions? Similarly, a poor diet can make it difficult to concentrate or recall recent events. A diet full of overly processed and low nutrient food can leave you feeling sluggish, irritable, and event a bit foggy. This can have an impact on job performance and can contribute to causes of workplace anger.
Lack of sleep
Not getting enough sleep is one of the most common causes of workplace anger, though it’s often not immediately recognized. Without consistent, uninterrupted hours of quality sleep, your brain will have a harder time concentrating, focusing, and processing simple emotions and tasks. This can leave you feel distracted, foggy, and more irritable than usual.
Domestic issues
Most people do their best to separate their personal and professional lives, although in reality, the two are inherently intertwined. What happens at home often carries into what happens on the job, and this can have a devastating impact on your overall job performance. Family, marital, or individual counseling is a great way to effectively navigate domestic issues in safe, judgement-free environment.