Some common signs of work depression:
- withdrawal or isolation from other people
- poor self-hygiene or significant change in appearance
- late arrival at work, missed meetings, or absent days
- procrastination, missed deadlines, reduced productivity, subpar performance in tasks, increased errors, or difficulty making decisions
- seeming indifference, forgetfulness, detachment, and disinterest in things
- an appearance of tiredness for most or part of the day (may be taking afternoon naps at work)
- irritability, anger, feeling overwhelmed, or getting very emotional during conversations (may start crying suddenly or become tearful over trivial things)
- lack confidence while attempting tasks
What you can do if you feel depressed while working
- Take a 5 to 10-minute break away from your desk or office.
- Take your lunch break outdoors.
- Go for a quick walk during a break — even if it’s indoors.
- Practice a few minutes of mindfulness meditation.
- Incorporate deep breathing exercises into your day.
- Say no to those tasks that allow you to experience less stress
- Listen to a funny podcast or your favourite music.
- Talk with a work colleague.
- Challenge negative thinking and replace every negative thought with three positive thoughts.
- Practice gratitude.