Being actively disengaged at your job can be detrimental to your mental health?

In 2008, Gallup conducted a study of workers who have never been diagnosed with depression. Those who were considered actively disengaged in their careers were twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression over the next year. According to Tom Rath and Jim Harter, authors of Well Being: The Five Essential Elements, they state the following on engagement:

• Having the opportunity to use your strengths every day makes you six times more likely to be engaged in your job

• Having at least 3-4 close relationships makes you more likely to be healthier, have higher well being and be more engaged in your job

• Having a best friend at work makes you seven times as likely to be engaged in your job, engaged with customers, produce higher quality work, have higher wellbeing, and are less likely to get injured on the job.

• When looking just at Strengths, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you know what your Strengths are?

  • Does your job energize or drain you?

  • Are you in a career that allows you to focus on what you are innately good at?

If you are in a position to use your Strengths on a regular basis your quality of life can increase significantly.