Yes it’s a Sunday, and no one wants to even think about work today, so I’m sorry in advance.
But here’s the truth, the workplace plays a huge role in our mental health, and that makes sense because that’s typically where we spend most of the day. The American Institute of Stress, yes that’s a real thing, reports that 83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress. And listen to this, Work-related stress causes 120,000 deaths per year.

Increased levels of job stress related to the perception of having little control but lots of demands have been associated with increased heart attack rates, hypertension, and other disorders.

So what can we do? If you’re an employee, you likely feel like you have no leverage. You don’t want to be the person that complains too much, but if you say nothing, you’re the one always being called into work on your off day because your coworker’s grandma’s getting her appendix taken out for the 10th time in a row.

Being unable to speak up at work can have long-lasting negative consequences. It can lead to stress, burnout, or render you almost invisible in a setting where promotions and raises depend on visibility.
When you’re assertive, you ask for what you need, you talk openly about what you want, and you recognize when someone is taking advantage of you. You can approach the things you do with confidence and make a direct impact on your environment. But this does not come easily for everyone.